Napoleon Wrasse

Photo: Floyd E. Hayes · CC BY-NC

Napoleon wrasse appear at Shark Island in numbers rarely seen in the western Pacific — up to six individuals on a single dive — reflecting Kosrae's effective no-take enforcement. These animals grow to 2 meters and live for decades; the largest individuals at this site carry the physical bulk that only comes with truly old age. Juveniles have also been observed in the shallower coral heads, suggesting successful local reproduction rather than immigration from elsewhere.