Also known as Blue-spotted Wrasse, Brownspotted Wrasse males are reddish brown to brown and abundantly covered with brown to orange spots.  There may be a white line along the side.  During breeding, males develop glowing orange spots over the body and a dark band becomes visible over the head, curving from the corner of the mouth back through the eye.  There is a light coloured area on the chin and an orangey margin on the anal fin.  After death the spots on the male change to a dull blue.  

Female and juvenile Brownspotted Wrasse have a variety of colours based around brown, grey/green and green, closely mottled and speckled with dark brown, and white spots along the lateral line. There are irregular markings radiating out from the eyes.  The pectoral fins are yellow.

Brownspotted wrasse grow to 1.1kgs and 50cms in length.

They are considered poor eating. 

Brownspotted wrasse are endemic to Australia and found from Shark Bay Western Australia, south around to Victor Harbour South Australia, in coastal reef and weed areas.

check the ID guide on the left.