---
title: "Floral Maori Wrasse"
description: "Cheilinus chlorourus — Fish. The floral wrasse (Cheilinus chlorourus) is a species of wrasse native to the Indian Ocean and the western Pacific Ocean from the coast of Africa to the Tuamotus and Marquesas."
canonical: https://animalchecklist.com/animal/floral-maori-wrasse
last_updated: 2026-09-20
---

# Floral Maori Wrasse

> Cheilinus chlorourus — Fish. The floral wrasse (Cheilinus chlorourus) is a species of wrasse native to the Indian Ocean and the western Pacific Ocean from the coast of Africa to the Tuamotus and Marquesas.

- Scientific name: *Cheilinus chlorourus*
- Category: `fish` (Fish)
- Habitats: `sea` (Sea & coast)
- iNaturalist observations: 2419
- Wikidata: [Q1818330](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1818330)
- iNaturalist taxon: [97307](https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/97307)

## Names

- en: Floral Maori Wrasse
- de: Schneeflocken-Prachtlippfisch
- es: Maorí floreado
- fr: Labre maori à points blancs

## Countries with the most observations

AU (391), ID (231), PF (228), FJ (225), NC (185), PH (181), TH (146), MY (91), CK (44), HK (39), MV (25), TW (22)

## Summary

The floral wrasse (Cheilinus chlorourus) is a species of wrasse native to the Indian Ocean and the western Pacific Ocean from the coast of Africa to the Tuamotus and Marquesas.  Its range extends as far north as the Ryukyus and south to New Caledonia.  It is an inhabitant of reefs in lagoons or coastal waters at depths of from 1 to 30 m (3.3 to 98.4 ft).  This species can reach 45 cm (18 in) in total length.  It is of minor importance to local commercial fisheries and can also be found in the aquarium trade.

Text: Wikipedia (en), CC BY-SA 4.0 — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Floral_wrasse

## Photo

![Floral Maori Wrasse](https://animalchecklist.com/img/animals/floral-maori-wrasse/medium.jpg)

Photo: Светлана Царахова · CC0 · inaturalist — https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/369285273

## Machine access

`GET https://animalchecklist.com/api/v1/animals/floral-maori-wrasse?lang=en` — see [openapi.json](https://animalchecklist.com/openapi.json).