MBI Species Classification Request

General

Name:

Matt Pedersen ( mpedersen )

Status:

Completed

Date:

10/13/2015

Classification Type:

New

Challenge

Species:

Halichoeres ornatissimus

Suggested Class:

Common Name(s):

Christmas Wrasse, Ornate Wrasse, Ornamented wrasse

Species Synonyms:

Julis ornatissimus

Fish/Invert/Culture:

Spawn Mode:

Pelagic

Fish Base Link:

http://www.fishbase.se/summary/Halichoeres-ornatissimus.html

Breeding Success:

True

Success References:

http://www.bluereefphoto.org/blog/2015/9/larval-rearing-of-the-ornate-wrasse-halichoeres-ornatissimus

Journal:

If Challenging Existing Classification
Reasons Species Should be Reclassified:

If Requesting New Classification
Research or Links to information on Species:	http://www.bluereefphoto.org/blog/2015/9/larval-rearing-of-the-ornate-wrasse-halichoeres-ornatissimus

Other Details
Other Information:	Ornate wrasse (Halichoeres ornatissimus) juveniles were raised from hatchery spawned eggs in July 2015 for this project. This small (up to 6”/15 cm), colorful wrasse species resides on mostly shallow reefs in Hawaii and the tropical Pacific often feeding on small benthic mollusks and crustaceans. A large adult H. ornatissimus male and two adult females were collected in waters off Oahu, Hawaii. The harem was conditioned at the RCT hatchery for just over 3 weeks before they spawned. The fish reproduced daily near 4 pm. Egg quality was initially poor but gradually improved following an increase in broodstock feedings. H. ornatissimus eggs are spherical, clear, contain a single oil globule and measure 0.65 mm in diameter. The larvae are small (1.6 mm TL) and primitive at hatching, begin to feed 3 dph (days after hatching) near 2.6 mm TL and pass through flexion near 20 dph at 4.6 mm TL. Halichoeres larvae bury in sand during juvenile transformation. H. ornatissimus larvae first disappeared in sand near 47 dph (10 mm TL), emerging 6-7 days later as colorful juveniles. This species was difficult to rear largely because of its delicate and small-mouthed early stage larvae, which were brought through first feeding on a mix of Parvocalanus sp. nauplii and ciliates (primarily Strombidium sp.) and through flexion on wild and cultured copepods. Postflexion H. ornatissimus larvae proved less fragile and survived well on a live adult copepod diet with Artemia and pellet feedings implemented shortly before settlement. The near 50 dph larval period of H. ornatissimus was longer than the two previously raised Halichoeres species; Halichoeres poecilopterus settled by 33 dph (Kimura and Kiriyama, 1993), and Halichoeres melanurus settled by 22 dph (Rising Tide Conservation Initiative). Longer planktonic larval durations (ranging from 39 to 56 days) have also been reported for wild H. ornatissimus larvae (Victor, 1986) so it's likely that the H. ornatissimus larval phase will not be shortened significantly by improving the culture method. Conversely, juvenile H. ornatissimus appear ideally suited for aquaculture. They are attractive, hardy, fast growing, and not aggressive toward each other at higher stocking densities.

Other Details

Other Information:

Ornate wrasse (Halichoeres ornatissimus) juveniles were raised from hatchery spawned eggs in July 2015 for this project. This small (up to 6”/15 cm), colorful wrasse species resides on mostly shallow reefs in Hawaii and the tropical Pacific often feeding on small benthic mollusks and crustaceans. A large adult H. ornatissimus male and two adult females were collected in waters off Oahu, Hawaii. The harem was conditioned at the RCT hatchery for just over 3 weeks before they spawned. The fish reproduced daily near 4 pm. Egg quality was initially poor but gradually improved following an increase in broodstock feedings.

H. ornatissimus eggs are spherical, clear, contain a single oil globule and measure 0.65 mm in diameter. The larvae are small (1.6 mm TL) and primitive at hatching, begin to feed 3 dph (days after hatching) near 2.6 mm TL and pass through flexion near 20 dph at 4.6 mm TL. Halichoeres larvae bury in sand during juvenile transformation. H. ornatissimus larvae first disappeared in sand near 47 dph (10 mm TL), emerging 6-7 days later as colorful juveniles.

This species was difficult to rear largely because of its delicate and small-mouthed early stage larvae, which were brought through first feeding on a mix of Parvocalanus sp. nauplii and ciliates (primarily Strombidium sp.) and through flexion on wild and cultured copepods. Postflexion H. ornatissimus larvae proved less fragile and survived well on a live adult copepod diet with Artemia and pellet feedings implemented shortly before settlement.

The near 50 dph larval period of H. ornatissimus was longer than the two previously raised Halichoeres species; Halichoeres poecilopterus settled by 33 dph (Kimura and Kiriyama, 1993), and Halichoeres melanurus settled by 22 dph (Rising Tide Conservation Initiative). Longer planktonic larval durations (ranging from 39 to 56 days) have also been reported for wild H. ornatissimus larvae (Victor, 1986) so it's likely that the H. ornatissimus larval phase will not be shortened significantly by improving the culture method. Conversely, juvenile H. ornatissimus appear ideally suited for aquaculture. They are attractive, hardy, fast growing, and not aggressive toward each other at higher stocking densities.

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