pearly razorfish
Xyrichtys novacula
Long, very flattened wrasse of shallow sand and seagrass bottoms. It is a sport fish and shows up in shallow reef fishing.
Also called: bodião-curuá, bodião-navalha, budião, doncella cuchilla, pearly razorfish
- maximum
- 38 cm
- depth
- 1–90 m
who is the pearly razorfish
Wrasse of the family Labridae, reaching 38 cm. It is elongated and strongly compressed, with the front of the head forming a sharp edge. It occurs in the western Atlantic, from North Carolina and the northern Gulf of Mexico to Brazil, including the Caribbean, and also in the eastern Atlantic, from France to Angola, including the Mediterranean. In Brazil it ranges from Ceará to Santa Catarina. It lives in shallow, clear areas with sandy bottoms, near seagrass beds and corals, from 1 to 90 m deep. It feeds mainly on mollusks, and also on crabs and shrimp. It builds nests with coral fragments. When frightened, it dives head-first into the sand. In fishing, it is a sport fish and has minor commercial use.
Essential profile. Identification, where it occurs and rules, with data from FishBase and the cited regulations. Season, time of day, technique and bait are added once we have a good source for the pearly razorfish; in the meantime, see the similar species.
fun facts
- When frightened, it dives head-first into the sand.
identification
Elongated, very compressed body, with the head in profile forming a sharp edge and a very blunt snout. It is pale green and generally has no obvious marks on the body. The head has alternating vertical lines of pale blue and orange-yellow, the most useful sign for identifying the species. Males and females differ in head shape and in the length of the pelvic fin.
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Each card shows the day's index (0 to 100) and, below it, a strip with the index for each hour, from 0h to 23h. from poor to excellent.
Essential profile: the index uses a general fish model (weather, sun, moon and tide), without a season or time of day specific to this species.
where found
Western Atlantic, from North Carolina and the northern Gulf of Mexico, through the Caribbean, to Brazil, where it ranges from Ceará to Santa Catarina. It also occurs in the eastern Atlantic, from France to Angola.
Habitat: Shallow, clear areas with sandy bottoms, near seagrass beds and corals, 1 to 90 m deep.
coast
rules for the pearly razorfish
Summary of the regulations we found, with the source for each. Rules change; before keeping or transporting fish, check with the state environmental agency.
Conservation: Not on the Brazilian national list (Ministerial Ordinance GM/MMA No. 1.667/2026).
We found no species-specific rule beyond the region's general rules.
catch and release
catch and release Releasing the fish alive, quickly and with a wet hand. During a closed season it isn't always allowed: what the regulation says applies.
No dangerous spines or venom, and it is harmless to handle.
in the kitchen
It is sold fresh.
how much it weighs without taking it out of the water
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.00955, b = 3.0; FishBase (relação peso-comprimento bayesiana, estimativa da própria espécie)). It's an average: a fat or lean fish can vary by 10% to 20%.
estimated weight
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sources and references
Essential profile: size, length-weight, depth, countries and conservation come from FishBase and the cited regulations, and the texts were written from those sources. Season, time of day, sensitivities, technique and baits and lures are not included yet, because we did not find a good source for this species.
- scientific FishBase: Xyrichtys novacula (ficha da espécie)Size, length-weight, depth, habitat, distribution, biology, and IUCN status. Page checked on Oct 13, 2026.
- scientific FishBase: nomes populares de Xyrichtys novaculaNames by country and language.
- official Portaria GM/MMA nº 1.667, de 27 de abril de 2026: Lista Nacional Oficial de Espécies da Fauna Ameaçadas de Extinção (peixes e invertebrados aquáticos)The species is not on the list. Checked in the DOU of April 28, 2026.
