Peacock Razorfish

Facts about the Peacock Razorfish, which is also known as Pavo Razorfish, Black Razorfish, Red-Belly Razor Wrasse, Peacock Wrasse, and among other names, has a Spanish name called cuchillo cavo real. The Peacock Razorfish belongs to a member of the Labridae or Wrasse Family, commonly known collectively as doncellas, Viejas and senoritas especially in Mexico. The Peacock Razorfish has strong compressed heads and bodies with a depth of about 36 to 40 percent of the standard length. In the Initial Phase, both males and female Peacock Razorfish have a yellow or white coloration with four broad dark vertical-bars on their bodies. In the actual Terminal Phase, the Peacock Razorfish males have several similarities with a few differences with the Initial Phase species. The Peacock Razorfish have blue margins on the lower edge of the front bar and two thirds of the second bar.

The Peacock Razorfish has a blue sub-marginal stripe anal fin, while its caudal fin has a blue sub-marginal bar. The female of this Terminal Phase has brown lines that radiates from their eyes and it has a brown pelvic fins. Both males and females have steep head profile which is nearly vertical in shape with fleshy longitudinal keel at their front. Male and female Peacock Razorfish, have small eyes set very high on its head and a pair of long and curved canine teeth which are placed anteriorly on each of their jaws. The Peacock Razorfish also have a small black spot over the middle of their pectoral fins. Their dorsal fins have prolonged spines which reduce with time and finally diminish in length as they mature. The Peacock Razorfish have about seven normal spines and twelve rays, while their pectoral and caudal fins are dusky-brown. The Peacock Razorfish have a light-brown color in their dorsal and anal fins and transparent pelvic fins.

The Peacock Razorfish live in open sand near reefs and they will immediately burry themselves in sand in case they see or suspect any danger. The Peacock Razorfish have a maximum length of about 41 cm and the juveniles are found at the depths of 7 feet while the adults are found at the depths of 320 feet. They are diurnal in nature and they are opportunistic because they take an advantage of disturbances caused other feeding fish to feed themselves. The Peacock Razorfish are mainly found in Mexican waters of the Pacific but they are also widely distributed in places such as Indian ND Pacific Oceans. Little is known about their behavioral patterns though juveniles are known to appear to mimic dead drifting-leaves. The Peacock Razorfish can also hold the first two dorsal spines in front, over the head. Peacock Razorfish are always on the go during daytime and are the first to go to bed and last to wake up. When sleeping, juvenile Peacock Razorfish dive themselves below the sand and the adults wedge themselves in crevasses.

The Peacock Razorfish is usually easy to be recognized due to its unique and elongated first two dorsal spines that are separated from other fins. Its rectangular shape cannot be confused with other species. This kind of species is actually very rare and too small as compare to other types of species.