Green Birdmouth Wrasse Gomphosus caeruleus

The Green Birdmouth Wrasse, also called Blue-Green Birdmouth, is a colourful close relative of the Bird Wrasse, Gomphosus varius of the Pacific. It is native to the Indian Ocean.

The adult male is a bright blue-green with an extended, bird-like "beak" of a mouth. It can also be dark blue (hence the confusing taxonomic caeruleus for the "Green" Birdmouth) but with a light green dorsal and anal fin and a light blue edge to the pectoral fin. The male grows to 32cm long.

The smaller adult female is a bluish colour with a white chest and a yellow tail. The female Bird Wrasse relative is grey with dark-bordered scales and no yellow tail. Both have a long, beaklike mouth.