rosy razorfish
Xyrichtys martinicensis
Razorfish of shallow sand bottoms, pink and yellow, which dives head-first into the sand when frightened. It is hardly ever caught on a rod.
Also called: bodião-navalha-rosado, doncella llorona, lorito de arena, rosy razorfish
- maximum
- 19 cm
- depth
- 2–21 m
who is the rosy razorfish
Wrasse of the family Labridae, reaching 19.3 cm. It occurs in the western Atlantic, from southern Florida and the Bahamas to northern South America, including the Caribbean. It lives in shallow, sandy areas, from 2 to 21 m, and prefers clear water. It feeds on small invertebrates that live in the sand. When frightened, it dives head-first into the sand. 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 rosy razorfish; in the meantime, see the similar species.
identification
Females are pale grayish green, pinker on the belly, with a diffuse reddish-orange band from the eye to the base of the tail. The belly area is white, with red vertical lines on the lower part. Large males lose the red, white and black markings and gain an elongated vertical blue spot on each scale. The head turns yellow, with almost vertical pale blue bands, and there is a large dark blotch in the armpit of the pectoral fins.
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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 southern Florida and the Bahamas to northern South America, including the Caribbean and the Brazilian coast.
Habitat: Shallow sandy areas, 2 to 21 m deep.
coast
rules for the rosy 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 = 0.00676, b = 3.05; FishBase (relação peso-comprimento bayesiana, estimativa)). 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 martinicensis (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 martinicensisNames 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.
