Xyrichtys is a genus of wrasses native to the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans, where they are found in sandy-bottomed habitats. They are commonly known as razorfishes, as they are very laterally compressed with a sharp bony ridge at the front of their heads. This adaptation allows them to burrow very quickly into the sand at any sign of danger.

Xyrichtys
Rosy razorfish (X. martinicensis)
Pearly razorfish (X. novacula)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Labriformes
Family: Labridae
Genus: Xyrichtys
G. Cuvier, 1814
Type species
Coryphaena novacula
Linnaeus, 1758
Synonyms
  • Hemipteronotus Lacépède, 1801 (suppressed in ICZN Opinion 1799)
  • Novacula G. Cuvier, 1815
  • Amorphocephalus S. Bowdich, 1825
  • Xyrula D. S. Jordan, 1890

Species edit

The 11 currently recognized species in this genus are:[1]

Gallery edit

References edit

  1. ^ Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2013). Species of Xyrichtys in FishBase. October 2013 version.