Photo's & Information: Sling Jaw Wrasse (Epibulus insidiator)
The Sling Jaw Wrasse is a very strange saltwater fish species which occurs almost all over the globe. The Sling Jaw Wrasse occurs in the southern parts of North America, the northern parts of South America, Australasia, Asia and Europe and Africa. In South Africa there have been many reported sightings and catches of the Sling Jaw Wrasse, but they mainly occur in the warmer waters north of Durban into Mozambique. The Sling Jaw Wrasse uses its mouth (Which extends and opens, hence it's name) to suck up prey species such as small fish and small crustaceans. The mouth can often be (When extended) half as long as the body of this fish!
In South Africa the Sling Jaw Wrasse is known as the Slingjaw, Jaw Slinger, Gooibek and the Latin name Epibulus insidiator. They occur in coral reefs and deep offshore reefs up to 50 meters and can attain lengths of well over 50 centimeters. The colours, like most Wrasse species, vary but normally the juveniles are a brown colour and the fully mature male adult Sling Jaw Wrasse are very dark. Please see photographs of the beautiful Sling Jaw Wrasse (Epibulus insidiator) below:
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