Sling-Jaw Wrasse Male

Sling-Jaw Wrasse (Epibulus brevis)

The Sling-Jaw Wrasse is distinguished by its highly protrusible jaws, which can extend into a tube about half the length of its head. Males typically exhibit a greyish-brown body with orange on the back, a yellowish transverse bar on the flank, and a pale grey head featuring a thin black stripe through the eye. Their scales are edged with darker pigmentation.

Females can be bright yellow or dark brown, while juveniles are brown with thin white bars along their flanks and white lines radiating from their eyes. There are also individuals with intermediate patterns, showing yellow blotches, a pale tail, and occasionally black pectoral fins. The dorsal fin has 9–10 spines and 9–11 soft rays, while the anal fin has 3 spines and 8–9 soft rays. The largest sling-jaw wrasses can reach a standard length of up to 54 centimeters (21 inches).

In comparison, the Sling-jaw Wrasse has a more restricted distribution and is smaller in size, with less vibrant coloration in males. Females of this species have black pigment on their pectoral fins and possess longer pectoral fins.