Often also called Humphead Wrasse or Napolean Wrasse, this is the largest fish of the family Labridae, and males can grow up to 2 metres in length.

Juvenile Maori Wrasse - Cheilinus undulatus, photographed off the Daintree coast near Cow Bay. - Photo by Alex Pawlow

The female usually only grows to about 1 metre.

Juvenile Maori Wrasse are often found closer in to shore in fringing reef and lack the distinctive hump, where as adults tend to be found on the outer reef and are an impressive fish to spot while diving.

Colouration can vary considerably between purple, blue and green, however the distinctive shape and thick lips make this an easy to spot fish. Larger fish develop a distinctive hump on the head (hence the name Humphead Wrasse).