Seems like all large families have one, super-size catch-all genus. For the Butterflyfishes, it's Chaetodon, and for the wrasses, it's the genus Halichoeres. Burgess et al. (1990) list forty-seven species and there are more (sixty two currently). Confusing the matter is the typical morass of double and treble invalid classification of the same species as more than such on the basis of sexual and developmental differences (which can be quite striking with some). Many of the members of this genus are good looking, peaceful, and stay relatively small. Germinal to their keeping is selecting initially healthy specimens, providing a sand bed for digging and diving, and assuring their getting their share of the food.

Halichoeres bivittatus (Bloch 1791), the Slippery Dick Wrasse (2), is a standard item offered out of the tropical western Atlantic and an anomaly to me. This fish is neither really very attractive or relatively hardy in captivity. To almost nine inches in length. Bahamas, initial phase individual. Changeling and terminal phases below.

To: Part II, Part III, Part IV, Part V, Part VI, Part VII, Part VIII, Part IX