User:Kanoedabis/Saddle wrasse

Description
The common Saddle Wrasse may be one of the most common reef fish found in Hawaii. As adults these fishes have a dark blue-green head followed by a dull orange band that will intensify during the spawning seasons, as for the rest of the body it is blue-green with numerous magenta arrows running down the sides. “Terminal male” is when the fish matures into its largest and most noticeable transition such as they typically have a white bar around the orange band that is able to be “turned on or Off” as well as a crescent-shape tail fin. As for the juveniles of these fish they tend to be more whitish with a dark strip that runs from the top of the head to the tail and a cool fun fact is the smaller adult hinalea are able to revert to the juvenile colorations to avoid harassment from the bigger fish. These fish can grow up to 11.5 inches or 30 cm long

Distribution
The Saddle Wrasse or the Hīnālea Lauwili can be found in the shallows down to about 70 ft below the surface. These animals are Endemic to Hawaii as well as Johnston Atoll and are very common and can be found in a lot of intertidal habitats.

Habitat
They are endemic and commonly found in the Hawaiian Islands as well as the Johnston Atoll. Typically the hīnālea are found in shallow coastal areas that can range from 16-70 ft. the often like a lot of rocks, nooks and crannies to have a quiet get away and hide from potential threats. These fish do in fact “sleep” therefore, they either find holes or a sandy area to burrow and hide.

Diet
The Saddle Wrasse are carnivores, they will consume anything that will become available to them. As juveniles they will tend to be considered “cleaners '' : such as picking parasites from larger fish or animals but as they mature they will start to scavenge for worms, shells, mollusks, shrimps, and other crustaceans. They have canine teeths and pharyngeal bones near their gills in order to help crush the shells

Human use & Cultural Significance
Hīnālea were integral to society and fishing communities. Some species were a staple food item in the Hawaiian diet and regularly used in ceremonies and offerings to Hawaiian gods and goddesses. Specific fishing practices for hīnālea include melomelo, where club-like sticks were charred and anointed in oil to attract hīnālea when submerged underwater. Fishermen, or lawai‘a, also crafted sinking fish baskets woven with the vines of the endemic ‘āwikiwiki plant; these weighted baskets, or hīnaʻi hoʻoluʻuluʻu, were dropped into the sea to trap hīnālea with the vines of the endemic ‘āwikiwiki plant; these weighted baskets, or hīnaʻi hoʻoluʻuluʻu, were dropped into the sea to trap hīnālea