Harlequin Tuskfish

Choerodon fasciatus

Harlequin Tuskfish

Choerodon fasciatus

Connected Coasts

At the Aquarium

Connected Coasts

Appearance

The harlequin tuskfish is white with eight to nine vertical orange stripes. The orange stripes have a blue edge. The rear end of adults darkens as they age. Its teeth are blue and sharp. The harlequin tuskfish can grow up to 12 inches in length.

Habitat

Seaward reefs to depths as deep as 35 m.

Diet

Mollusks, crustaceans, various worms and echinoderms.

Life History

The harlequin tuskfish is somewhat solitary and is known to be territorial.

The harlequin tuskfish is reported to be monogamous, meaning that when two fish pair up they exclusively mate with each other.

Adults usually live together in small groups called harems with one dominant male and several females. If something happens to this male, the largest female usually changes into a male. Spawning occurs when females release eggs into the water and males then fertilize them. The eggs drift in the currents and after they hatch the larvae continue to grow eventually settling in a reef.

IUCN Status

Least Concern

Ecosystem & Cultural Importance

As a secondary consumer the harlequin tuskfish acts as a vital link in the food chain by controlling the prey they consume and providing a food source for larger predators. The harlequin tuskfish is prey for larger fish, moray eels and sharks.

From East Africa including Madagascar and the Maldives to New Caledonia and Fiji, and from the Ryukyu Islands to Australia.

This animal is not native to the Oregon Coast, however is found in the larger Pacific Ocean. It lives in the Aquarium as part of our Connected Coasts gallery.

The harlequin tuskfish gets its name from its colorful body and tusk-like teeth.

Their eyes move independently of each other which helps them find food and watch out for predators.

Citations & Other Resources

A., Liu, M. and Y. Sadovy. 2010. Choerodon fasciatus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2010.
Allen, G. R., and Western Australian Museum. 2009. Field guide to marine fishes of tropical Australia and South-East Asia (4th ed.). Western Australian Museum.
National Aquarium. N.d. Harlequin Tuskfish. National Aquarium. https://aqua.org/explore/animals/harlequin-tuskfish
Randall, J. E., G.R. Allen, and R.C. Steene. 1990. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. University of Hawaii Press.
The Dallas World Aquarium. N.d. Harlequin Tuskfish. The Dallas World Aquarium. https://dwazoo.com/animal/harlequin-tuskfish/

Harlequin Tuskfish

Harlequin Tuskfish

At the Aquarium

Appearance

Habitat

Diet

Life History

IUCN Status

Ecosystem & Cultural Importance

Citations & Other Resources

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