yellowcheek wrasse
Halichoeres cyanocephalus
Wrasse of Caribbean and Brazilian reefs, yellow when young and with a wide blue band. It is caught now and then on the line and is used as an ornamental fish.
Also called: bodião-dourado, bodião, doncella cabeciplateada, yellowcheek wrasse
- maximum
- 30 cm
- depth
- 18–91 m
who is the yellowcheek wrasse
Wrasse of the family Labridae, reaching 30 cm. It occurs in the western Atlantic, from Florida and the Antilles to Brazil. It lives over hard bottoms and reefs, from 18 to 91 m deep. Juveniles, up to 8 cm, act as cleaners of other reef fish, at cleaning stations where they receive other species. In fishing, it shows up now and then on the line, has little commercial interest because it is small, and is sold as an aquarium fish.
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 yellowcheek wrasse; in the meantime, see the similar species.
fun facts
- Juveniles, up to 8 cm, act as cleaners of other reef fish.
identification
Juveniles and females are yellow, with a wide blue band running from the eye to the middle of the tail. Adults have a broad black band on the upper half of the body, narrowing to the middle of the tail. The lower half of the body is blue-green, and the head below the mouth is blue-green, while above it is yellow. In either phase, the wide band from eye to tail (blue in juveniles and females, black in adults) is the strongest sign.
Loading the next 7 days…
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 Florida and the Antilles to Brazil. In Brazil it ranges from Paraíba to São Paulo, including the reefs of Maranhão, Fernando de Noronha and Atol das Rocas.
Habitat: Hard bottoms and reefs, 18 to 91 m deep.
coast
rules for the yellowcheek wrasse
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.
how much it weighs without taking it out of the water
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.00977, b = 3.08; FishBase (relação peso-comprimento bayesiana, estimativa pelo gênero e formato do corpo)). 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: Halichoeres cyanocephalus (ficha da espécie)Size, length-weight, depth, habitat, distribution, biology, and IUCN status. Page checked on Oct 13, 2026.
- scientific FishBase: nomes populares de Halichoeres cyanocephalusNames 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.
