This is another wrasse that may be unique to the Marshall Islands. At Kwajalein it is common in some patches of Halimeda algae on the lagoon slope.
Several males with a group of females.
The photos below by Jay Lord show a male that apparently barely escaped from a predator. It has lost its tail but still looks healthy. In the close-up, you can see the bone sticking out of the end of his body.
Created 26 May 2014
Updated 21 October 2018