Divefree

Fish

Natal Wrasse

Anchichoerops natalensis

A robust, endemic South African wrasse of Eastern Cape and KZN reefs, with thick lips and strong tusk-like teeth.

Also known as natal parrotfish, natal wagtail, wrasse(natal)

Natal Wrasse
Photo: Duncan Pritchard · CC BY-NC 4.0
Typical size
Commonly 30-50 cm
Habitat
Rocky and coral reefs
Depth
Shallows to about 40 m

The Natal wrasse is a heavy-bodied wrasse with a blunt head, fleshy lips and prominent canine teeth used to crush hard-shelled prey. It is generally mottled brown to greenish with darker blotches and pale markings that help it blend against reef and weed.

Endemic to the South African coast from the Eastern Cape into KwaZulu-Natal, it lives on rocky and coral reefs, feeding on crabs, molluscs, urchins and other invertebrates. Solitary and territorial, it patrols a home patch of reef and is generally shy of divers, retreating into gullies when approached.