Caledonia. It is found along the northern coasts of Australia from the Houtman Abrolhos archipelago to reefs in the Coral Sea off Queensland. Habitat and biology The slingjaw wrasse is a benthopelagic species which occurs in coral-rich areas of lagoon and seaward reefs, adults are normally found along reef slopes or near drop-offs. They feed on small crustaceans living in the coral and on fishes. It is thought likely that this species is a protogynous hermaphrodite. The colour of the males was observed to become more intense during courtship. Courting males swam with their caudal fin collapsed and held upwards at an angle while the anal fin was folded and stretched downwards. The intensity of the male's colour can return to normal when they feel threatened. Males hold a territory with an area of and a number of females appear to have their home ranges within his territory. spawning took place around high tide. When spawning the pair were observed to ascend . Spawning seems to be initiated by the females and has been recorded in March, April, May, July, September and October. Human uses The slingjaw wrasse is collected for food in many parts of its range, it is also collected for the aquarium trade. In Guam in the two decades up to 2008 the average body size of the fish caught did not decline. Taxonomy Epibulus insidiator was formally described as Sparus insidiator in 1770 by Peter Simon Pallas. In 1815 Georges Cuvier assigned Sparus insidiator to a now monotypic genus, Epibulus, which now alo contains Epibulus brevis, which was described in 2008. E. insidiator is, therefore the type species of the genus Epibulus. References External links Video of a slingjaw wrasse catching prey by protruding its jaw. http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=218972 Sling-jaw wrasse Fish of the Red Sea Fish described in 1770