Humphead Wrasse / Tangison
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Humphead Wrasse / Tangison
Cheilinus undulatus
Images from Coral Reefs CD
The tangison is the largest of all the wrasses and the second largest of the reef fishes. It may reach a length of eight feet and weight of 420 pounds (191 kg). The largest on Guam are probably about 200 pounds (90 kg). Adults develop a prominent hump on the forehead and have thick spongy lips. Small tangison may be distinguished from similar green wrasses by a unique pattern of three black lines extending from the eye. These are called tasen guaguan in Chamoru.
Small tangison live in coral-rich areas of shallow lagoon reefs. By the time they reach a foot in length, they move off the reef flats into deeper water. Adults occur along reef slopes at depths of six to 200 feet (2 to 60 m). They have a "home" cave or hole within which they sleep or hide when pursued.
In some areas, several young tangison may be seen on a single visit, but adults are not often seen and individuals over 100 pounds (45 kg) are rare. They are quite wary and move away as soon as they sense that they are being watched. The tangison is usually solitary. It feeds primarily on mollusks and other hard-shelled invertebrates including crustaceans, sea urchins, brittlestars, starfish, and sometimes fishes. It is one of the few predators that is able to eat toxic animals such as the crown-of-thorns starfish, boxfishes, and sea hares. The thick, spongy lips appear to absorb sea urchin spines, and molar-like teeth in the throat called pharyngeal teeth crush the shells of animals such as trochus shells (alileng tulompo/alileng pulan).
In some places, large tangison may contain ciguatera toxin in their flesh and may be poisonous. Although this does not seem to be a problem with tangison on Guam, it would not be wise to eat tangison weighing over 100 pounds (45 kg).
Guam Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy, 9/27/2005
