green razorfish
Xyrichtys splendens
Small razorfish of clear, shallow waters, with vertical blue spots on the scales of adults. It is hardly ever caught on a rod.
Also called: bodião-navalha-de-pinta, doncella de lunar, cuchillo de lunar, green razorfish
- maximum
- 18 cm
- depth
- 3–15 m
who is the green razorfish
Wrasse of the family Labridae, reaching 17.5 cm. It occurs in the western Atlantic, from Bermuda and southern Florida to Brazil, and throughout the Caribbean. It belongs to the razorfishes, elongated, compressed fish with an abrupt head profile. It lives in clear, shallow waters, from 3 to 15 m, mostly over sand near seagrass beds. In fishing it has little interest, being small, and it is sold for aquariums.
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 green razorfish; in the meantime, see the similar species.
identification
Adults have an elongated vertical blue spot on each scale. The head has alternating vertical lines of pale blue and brownish orange, wider than those of Xyrichtys novacula. Adult males are greener, with a black spot edged in blue in the middle of the body, within a pinkish or yellow area.
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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 Bermuda and southern Florida to Brazil, throughout the Caribbean. In Brazil there are records from the Northeast and Southeast.
Habitat: Shallow, clear areas, 3 to 15 m, near seagrass beds and on sand bottoms.
coast
rules for the green 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.
how much it weighs without taking it out of the water
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.00813, b = 3.07; 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 splendens (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 splendensNames 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.
