The rockmover wrasse or reindeer wrasse (Novaculichthys taeniourus) is a tropical fish inhabiting Indo-Pacific coral reefs.
The species is known for shaking up the sand at the bottom of reefs and aquariums as it digs itself under the sediment to sleep or evade danger. They can shift large pieces of debris with their mouths while hunting.
Watch this video of a young wrasse tucking itself in for the night.
[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oh--gOgTujc[/video]
Juvenile rockmovers, often called dragon wrasses, have fins that appear as wispy filaments. Their bodies are brown or green, decorated with a pattern of white spots and dark bands.
As they sway with the current, juvenile rockmovers look like pieces of free-floating seaweed.
[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ip6fX_hYIyI[/video]
As rockmovers mature, they take on a dramatically different look. The body’s color pattern changes and the fins lose their spinous appearance.
When searching for prey, adults usually work in pairs, with one turning over large pieces of debris with its jaws to reveal the quarry while its partner swoops in for the reward.
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