These are moderately common on some shallow lagoon and seaward reefs. This wrasse changes dramatically as it grows. The first image below shows the small juvenile.
Getting older and larger.
The next two photos show intermediate forms, most likely females.
Large males can exceed a meter in length, develop a hump on the forehead and turn mostly dark with a mid lighter colored band.
Mouth wide open.
Created 26 May 2014
Updated 27 March 2017