Species of fish
Cirrhilabrus balteatus,[2] the girdled fairy-wrasse, is a species of fish found in the aquarium trade.[2] In the wild, they are found in the Western Pacific Ocean near the Marshall Islands, but population numbers are unknown.[1] They are usually found at a depth between 25 – 85 feet (8 – 25 m) in shallow lagoons and seaward reefs where rubble collects.[2] The species grows to be about 4 inches in length, and it feeds on zooplankton. Female Cirrhilabrus balteatus are drab reddish-pink with a white belly, while males have a body that varies in colors from purple to pink or greenish-yellow.[2]
It is likely the aquarium trade is causing a decline in wild populations, as members of the species are very valuable.[1]
References
