Geographical variations of Cirrhilabrus

[yikai]

Here are some geographical variations of fairy wrasses. Some fairy wrasses coming from different locations will have different appearances. Here are some geographical variations for some of the more popular fairy wrasses

[yikai]

Cirrhilabrus bathyphilus

Hooded Fairy Wrasse

Specimens from Northern Vanuatu (Efate island) sport a bright red hood that dramatically separates the head from the bright orange body.

Specimens from Australia sport a bright red hood that gradually mixes with the orange body.

Specimens from Southern Vanuatu (Tanna island) sport a bright red hood that dramatically separates from the bright orange body. However, a red streak continues from the head to the tail.

Both variations have pinkish fins.

[yikai]

Cirrhilabrus exquisitus

Exquisite Fairy Wrasse

Specimens coming out from Africa and Maldives are the most beautiful, with gorgeous pink markings

Fijian specimens are mostly green with some blue markings on face and fins.

Vanuatu specimens closely resemble Fijian specimens, but at times, will sport yellow colouration on the dorsal region.

Indonesian variants are predominantly green with red fins.

Photos shown according to above mentioned locales.

[yikai]

Cirrhilabrus lubbocki

Lubbock's Fairy Wrasse

Two variations from the Indo-pacific.

One with horizontal black lines, another without.

[yikai]

Cirrhilabrus pylei

Pylei Fairy Wrasse

Specimens from Cebu sport a brilliant blue line from tip of snout, running through the dorsal region to caudal penducle. Dorsal fin has a large black spot along 2/3 of the way, and tail is bordered in black.

Specimens from Vanuatu are usually yellow, but fade to beige after being in captivity for awhile.

A very violent species

[yikai]

Cirrhilabrus rubrimarginatus

Red Margin Fairy Wrasse

Specimens from Philippines are light pink. Pelvic fins are light pink.

Specimens from Fiji/Vanuatu are gorgeous with an extra bright pink band on dorsal region. Chest of males are dark blue with numerous yellow spots, pelvic fins are very dark blue.

[yikai]

Cirrhilabrus scottorum

Scott's Fairy Wrasse

Specimens from Fiji look similar to Cook island ones, but Cook island Scott's Fairy Wrasses have brighter yellow fins and a bigger red spot

Australian ones are green entirely with bright orange fins with black markings.

[Terryz_]

Cirrhilabrus pylei

Pylei Fairy Wrasse

Specimens from Cebu sport a brilliant blue line from tip of snout, running through the dorsal region to caudal penducle. Dorsal fin has a large black spot along 2/3 of the way, and tail is bordered in black.

Specimens from Vanuatu are usually yellow, but fade to beige after being in captivity for awhile.

A very violent species

There is a pink varient also right?

[yikai]

There is a pink varient also right?

pink one yes have. but those are not the alpha males. alpha males are bright yellow like the photo. but the yellow will also fade to pink/beige after awhile. pylei colour not very easy to hold.

females are pink too.

[vt_snowman87]

Cirrhilabrus rubrimarginatus

Red Margin Fairy Wrasse

Specimens from Philippines are light pink. Pelvic fins are light pink.

Specimens from Fiji/Vanuatu are gorgeous with an extra bright pink band on dorsal region. Chest of males are dark blue with numerous yellow spots, pelvic fins are very dark blue.

do you have a pic of a red margin female? is the red margin still present? or does red margin means submale?

[yikai]

do you have a pic of a red margin female? is the red margin still present? or does red margin means submale?

yes the female red margins are still present.

there's a mixture of submales and females present. females look a little like males but with heavily subdued colouration and lack the bright red margin on the tail.

anyway, here's a pic of two juveniles and a female. juveniles are pink with a yellow band on the head and a tail spot.

female shown below with an alpha male red margin from fiji.

[vt_snowman87]

yes the female red margins are still present.

there's a mixture of submales and females present. females look a little like males but with heavily subdued colouration and lack the bright red margin on the tail.

anyway, here's a pic of two juveniles and a female. juveniles are pink with a yellow band on the head and a tail spot.

female shown below with an alpha male red margin from fiji.

:thanks:

what about this pic? this was my old resident, but soon after i introduced another male in, this fellow got harassed until it didn't even dared to come out anymore.. so i presume this is submale?

[yikai]

:thanks:

what about this pic? this was my old resident, but soon after i introduced another male in, this fellow got harassed until it didn't even dared to come out anymore.. so i presume this is submale?

this is a submale rubrimarginatus from philippines.

philippine specimens are duller compared to fiji ones. don't have dark chest, dont have dark pelvic fins, dont have yellow spots and don't have the bright pink band on the dorsal region.

that's a very beautiful exquisite wrasse btw.

[vt_snowman87]

this is a submale rubrimarginatus from philippines.

philippine specimens are duller compared to fiji ones. don't have dark chest, dont have dark pelvic fins, dont have yellow spots and don't have the bright pink band on the dorsal region.

that's a very beautiful exquisite wrasse btw.

ahhh icic.. both exquisitus and rubrimarginatus are from my old tank, sadly already gone..

[yikai]

ahhh icic.. both exquisitus and rubrimarginatus are from my old tank, sadly already gone..

rubrimarginatus is very common, not to worry.

the exquisite is very nice though. i like the broken pink lines on it's face compared to them normally having a solid pink face.

i remember seeing this photo in your old tank thread and thinking "wow. beautiful exquisite"

and now i look at it again, and i'm thinking it again. although it's common, it's the little difference in markings like this that excites me.