---
title: "Slingjaw Wrasse"
description: "Epibulus insidiator — Fish. The slingjaw wrasse (Epibulus insidiator) is a species of wrasse from the family Labridae which is native to the tropical waters of the Indo-Pacific where it occurs around coral reefs."
canonical: https://animalchecklist.com/animal/slingjaw-wrasse
last_updated: 2026-09-20
---

# Slingjaw Wrasse

> Epibulus insidiator — Fish. The slingjaw wrasse (Epibulus insidiator) is a species of wrasse from the family Labridae which is native to the tropical waters of the Indo-Pacific where it occurs around coral reefs.

- Scientific name: *Epibulus insidiator*
- Category: `fish` (Fish)
- Habitats: `sea` (Sea & coast)
- iNaturalist observations: 2878
- Wikidata: [Q1767568](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1767568)
- iNaturalist taxon: [100036](https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/100036)

## Names

- en: Slingjaw Wrasse
- de: Stülpmaul-Lippfisch
- es: Napoleón Bocón
- fr: Épibule gourami
- pt: Bodião-estilingue

## Countries with the most observations

EG (510), AU (263), FJ (187), PF (185), ID (180), TH (172), JP (62), GU (59), MV (58), MY (54), NC (54), SA (48)

## Summary

The slingjaw wrasse (Epibulus insidiator) is a species of wrasse from the family Labridae which is native to the tropical waters of the Indo-Pacific where it occurs around coral reefs. Along with its sister species in the genus Epibulus, this species is notable for its highly protrusible jaws, an adaptation for feeding in complex aquatic environments. This species is of minor importance to local commercial fisheries and can be found in the aquarium trade.

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

## Photo

![Slingjaw Wrasse](https://animalchecklist.com/img/animals/slingjaw-wrasse/medium.jpg)

Photo: Jean-Paul Boerekamps · CC0 · inaturalist — https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/88931866

## Machine access

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