Halichoeres hilomeni Randall & Allen, 2010
Hilomen's wrasse
photo by Allen, G.R.

Family:  Labridae (Wrasses), subfamily: Corinae
Max. size:  9.56 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range 1 - 3 m
Distribution:  Western Central Pacific: Philippines and Malaysia.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 9-9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 12-12; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 12-12; Vertebrae: 25-25. This species is characterized by the following: D IX,12; A III,12; pectoral rays 14; lateral-line scales 27; head naked but nape fully scaled; most scales of straight anterior part of lateral with a middle surface tubule forming 3 short branches ending in a pore, with the middle branch usually longest; suborbital pores 10-13; gill rakers 18-20; body depth 3.15-3.6 in SL; head length (HL) 2.9-3.0 in SL; snout length 2.85-3.25 in HL; dorsal spines progressively longer posteriorly, last 3 subequal, 2.85-3.4 in HL; caudal fin moderately rounded, 1.35-1.5 in HL; upper half of body dark brown, males with 5 narrow pale bars extending from base of dorsal fin; lower half of body pale brown, the centres of scales darker; a dark brown band from upper lip to lower half of orbit, extending posterior to eye, half as broad, to base of opercular flap; 3 narrow dark bars extending dorsally from postorbital band, the first black and vertical, just behind eye, the posterior 2 bands irregular; a boomerang-shaped dark brown band extending posteriorly from behind corner of mouth across cheek; fins are translucent pale yellowish, dorsal with a broad black band across middle of first 2 membranes; rest of fin with longitudinal rows of faint, dark-edged, pale spots (3 per membrane); anal fin with a row of faint, dark-edged, pale spots along base; caudal fin with faint transverse bands; paired fins pale, the pectorals with a triangular black spot dorsally on base, narrowing to a line across remainder of base; peritoneum dark brown (Ref. 85096).
Biology:  Occurs in a sheltered habitat of mixed coral, algae, sand and gravel (Ref. 85096). Found in small groups or solitary (Ref. 90102).
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless
Country info:  Type locality, Palawan Province, Dibuluan Island, Bacuit Bay, southern end of bay, 12.8 km south of town of El Nido, UPLB 498 (holotype of Halichoeres hilomeni, 49.8 cm SL, male). Known from Dibuluan, a small island at the northern end of Palawan (Ref. 85096). Known from Calamianes (Ref. 90102).


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