Napoleon wrasse

Photo: Ahmed Fouad · CC BY-NC

Solitary Napoleon wrasse of impressive size — sometimes exceeding 150 cm — cruise the walls and plateau of Elphinstone, recognisable by their iconic humped forehead and thick fleshy lips. They are protogynous hermaphrodites, beginning life as females before the most dominant individuals transition to males, a biological strategy that maximises reproductive success in territorial reef environments. Endangered from spearfishing and live reef fish trade pressure, large individuals like those at Elphinstone represent an increasingly rare sight across the Indo-Pacific.