northern KwaZulu Natal. It is expected that it will also be found in southern Mozambique. Habitat and biology Halichoeres zulu occurs solitarily at depths from along rocky shores, where there are patches of sand and coral. The shallow-water habitat off rocky shores in which this species is found are exposed to the wind and the waves, making it difficult to obtain specimens and this combined with its similarity to H. nebulosus, its rarity and elusive nature meant that it was previously overlooked. Taxonomy and naming Halichoeres zulu was described in 2010 by John Ernest Randall & Dennis R. King with the type locality given as Umhlanga Rocks in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The specific name refers to the Zulu people who are indigenous to KwaZulu-Natal. This rare species was formerly misidentified as Halichoeres nebulosus, and is a close relative of the Indo-Pacific Halichoeres margaritaceus. References zulu Marine fish of South Africa Taxa named by John Ernest Randall Fish described in 2010