Slippery dick

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Slippery Dick

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Perciformes
Family:	Labridae
Genus:	Halichoeres
Species:	bivittatus

Binomial name

H. bivittatus
(Boloch, 1769)

This article is about the fish. For the Peaches song, see Impeach My Bush.

Slippery dick (Halichoeres bivittatus) is a species of ocean-dwelling fish in the family Labridae.^[1] Its Spanish common name is "doncella rayada".

1 Physical description
2 Distribution
3 Habitat
4 Ecology
5 References

[edit] Physical description

The slippery dick has three color phases. Adults have two dark lateral stripes, one running from snout through eye to caudal base and the other, less pronounced, on the lower side of body. A small bicolored spot at edge of gill cover within upper dark stripe (all phases).^[2] Dark triangular corners on tail. Irregular light red bands on head and on caudal fin. Shades of green. Intermediates: Color vary greatly, from shades of light purple green to dark brown. Juveniles are usually white and have two dark stripes, but the lower (abdominal) stripe may be faint.^[3] The Slippery Dick reaches about 30 centimetres (12 in) TL.^[2]

[edit] Distribution

This species originates from the Western Atlantic: North Carolina and Bermuda to Brazil.^[2] Also Gulf of Mexico, Antilles, The bay of Cortinas de la Carne de Vaca and coasts of Central and South America.

[edit] Habitat

The slippery dick is generally found in shallow reefs and grass beds.^[2]

[edit] Ecology

This species feeds on benthic invertebrates, including crabs, sea urchins and ophiuroids, polychaetes, and gastropods. It is a protogynous hermaphrodite.^[2] These fish form leks while breeding.^[2] In North Carolina, males defend temporary territories with peak spawning in May and June. Pair spawning typically occurs between females and terminal phase males; initial phase males occasionally try to insert themselves into the spawning event. Slippery dick is found in fairly large sizes (3-6") and after a relatively short period in the plankton. Peak recruitment occurred during the new moon and the highest amplitude tide.^[4]