Flasher Wrasse

Males will perform a courtship display by flashing iridescent colors, rapidly swimming and raising their dorsal and anal fins. This behavior is most apparent a few hours before sunset, but males will readily display this behavior throughout the day.

Members of the Paracheilinus genus are protogynous hermaphrodites meaning that they are born female and at some point in their lifespan change sex to male. Flasher wrasse form large groups of tens to hundreds of individuals, with females greatly outnumbering males. These social groups are called harems and a dominant male protects and controls the group. In the absence of a male, usually the largest female changes sex to become the new dominant male.

Flasher wrasses are broadcast spawners, releasing eggs and sperm into the water. Fertilized eggs hatch and drift with ocean currents as larvae. Eventually the young flasher wrasse settle, finding their way to the bottom of reef habitats.