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Phylum Chordata > Subphylum Vertebrate > fishes > Family Labridae
Anchor tuskfish
Choerodon anchorago
Family Labridae
updated Sep 2020

Where seen? This large fish is sometimes seen on our reefy Southern shores. Sadly, sometimes dead in abandoned fishing nets, or trapped in large fish traps ('bubu'). Elsewhere, they are usually seen in silty reefs, also in seagrass areas with sand. Small juveniles are seen in seagrass beds near mangroves and freshwater run off. Sometimes seen in groups. It is also called the Yellow-cheek tuskfish, White-belly tuskfish or Orange-dotted tuskfish.

Features: To 38cm, those seen 20-30cm. With variable coloration, it is identified by a pale diagonal bar at the pectoral fin, black area on the middle of the upper side and large white saddle behind the dorsal fin. It also has a white chin and belly, and the head has tiny orange spots. Like other wrasses, the fish may have different colours and patterns at night. Juveniles may be greenish when in seagrass. It has a pair of enlarged canine teeth in front of the jaws.

Kusu Island, Jul 11

Tanah Merah, Apr 11
What does it eat? It fees mainly on hard-shelled prey including crustaceans, molluscs and sea urchins.

Human uses: It is sold fresh and as live seafood in Hong Kong.
It is also harvested for the aquarium trade.

Anchor tuskfishes on Singapore shores
On wildsingapore flickr

Other sightings on Singapore shores


Marina Keppel Bay, Apr 11
Photo shared by Marcus Ng on flickr.

Sentosa Serapong, May 12
Photo shared by Heng Pei Yan on her blog.
 


Sisters Island, Dec 12
Photo shared by Loh Kok Sheng on flickr.


Cyrene Reef, Jul 10
Photo shared by Marcus Ng on flickr.

Cyrene, Sep 20
Photo shared by Jianlin Liu on facebook.


Cyrene Reef, Aug 21
Photo shared by Loh Kok Sheng on facebook.

Cyrene, Sep 22
Photo shared by Che Cheng Neo on facebook.


Terumbu Hantu, Apr 17
Photo shared by Abel Yeo on facebook.


Terumbu Buran, Nov 10
Photo shared by Russel Low on facebook.

Terumbu Raya, Aug 21
Photo shared by Loh Kok Sheng on facebook.


Pulau Semakau (North), Apr 16
Photo shared by Marcus Ng on facebook.
   


Pulau Senang, Jun 10
Photo shared by Marcus Ng on flickr.

Pulau Salu, Apr 21
Photo shared by Jianlin Liu on facebook.


Pulau Salu, Apr 21
Photo shared by Marcus Ng on facebook.

Pulau Salu, Apr 21
Photo shared by Loh Kok Sheng on facebook.

Acknowledgement
Thanks to Jeffrey Low for identifying this fish.

Links

References
  • Allen, Gerry, 2000. Marine Fishes of South-East Asia: A Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Periplus Editions. 292 pp.
  • Kuiter, Rudie H. 2002. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia: A Comprehensive Reference for Divers & Fishermen New Holland Publishers. 434pp.
  • Lieske, Ewald and Robert Myers. 2001. Coral Reef Fishes of the World Periplus Editions. 400pp.
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