Leopard Wrasse - Melanesia

West Pacific from Japan to Australia and northern Indonesia, ranging along Wallace's line to north-west Bali. Replaced by M.ornatus in most of Indonesia, but co-occurs with this species in the Rowley Shoals, WA. Shallow coastal to outer reef crests. Young and females light green with brown to black spots. Males reddish brown to green with iridescent dark-green spots on the body and lines of the head. A dark 'ear' spot with some yellow colouration. Length usually to 11cm, but males can reach 14cm in some subtropical regions.