Humphead Wrasse
Cheilinus undulatus · ky-LY-nus un-dyoo-LAY-tus
diurnalsolitaryEndangered
EdibleFriendly
Superpower
One of the few reef fish that can safely eat venomous crown-of-thorns starfish.
At a glance
- Size
- typically 100 cm, up to 230 cm
- Lifespan
- 25–30 years
- Depth
- 1–100 m
Habitat
Steep outer reef slopes, channels and lagoons.
Diet
Hard-shelled prey — molluscs, sea urchins and even toxic crown-of-thorns starfish.
Can I eat it?
Yes — edible · tastiness 7/10.
How to cook: A luxury food fish ('mameng'), but endangered — it should be left alone.
Fun facts
- It is one of the largest reef fish, with a big bump on its forehead.
- It can eat crown-of-thorns starfish that devastate corals.
- Mameng is endangered from overfishing for the live reef-fish trade.