Maori Wrasse: The Personality of the Great Barrier Reef

“The Maori wrasse has a face that looks like it’s about to ask you a question. It’s curious, large, and one of the reef’s most charismatic residents.”

Maori Wrasse – The Great Barrier Reef’s Gentle Giant of the Reef Fish

Māori Wrasse: The Curious Giant of the Great Barrier Reef

Maori Wrasse

Enjoy Their Striking Appearance: The Māori wrasse stands out with its vibrant blue, green, and purple colours. As they age, the distinctive hump on their forehead becomes more pronounced, making them easy to recognise.
Meet the Gentle Giants: These impressive fish grow up to 2.3 metres long and about 190 kilograms, making them the largest of all wrasses. Despite their size, they are curious, and at popular sites many are used to snorkellers and divers.
A Rare Reef Predator: Māori wrasse is one of the few predators that eats the crown-of-thorns starfish, which can cause serious damage to coral.
Live a Long Life: These fascinating fish can live for about 30 years. However, they take a long time to grow and mature, which makes conservation efforts even more important.
Admire Their Unique Markings: The intricate facial patterns of the Māori wrasse resemble traditional Māori tattoos. These beautiful markings give each fish a distinctive look and add to their charm.
A Protected Species: Māori wrasse have been a no-take species in Queensland since 2003, so any caught must be released. They are listed as Endangered by the IUCN.
Spot Them in Amazing Locations: Head to the Great Barrier Reef’s popular sites near Cairns and Port Douglas to encounter these incredible fish. They often swim alongside divers and snorkellers, making for unforgettable encounters.

Discover the Maori Wrasse

The Māori wrasse, also known as the humphead wrasse, is one of the most iconic and beloved fish on the Great Barrier Reef. With their striking colours, quirky personalities, and important role in the reef ecosystem, these gentle giants never fail to leave a lasting impression on visitors. Whether snorkelling or diving, encountering a Māori wrasse will surely be a highlight of your reef adventure.

Why Māori Wrasse Are So Special

The Māori wrasse stands out with its vibrant blue, green, and purple hues, along with the distinct hump on its forehead that becomes more pronounced as it matures. Growing up to 2.3 metres in length and about 190 kilograms, they are the largest of all wrasses. Despite their size, they are known for their gentle and inquisitive nature, and at popular sites some will swim close to snorkellers and divers.

Where to Spot Māori Wrasse

You’re in luck if you hope to see a Māori wrasse in the wild! These incredible fish are found on the northern Great Barrier Reef and in the Coral Sea, around coral bommies, lagoons and reef slopes. Popular diving and snorkelling sites near Cairns and Port Douglas, such as Agincourt Reef and Norman Reef, are good places to look for them. Larger adults are often seen along steeper outer reef slopes.

Fascinating Facts About Māori Wrasse

Curious by Nature: Māori wrasse are naturally curious, and at popular dive and snorkel sites many are used to people and will come close.
An Unusual Diet: They are one of the few predators that eat crown-of-thorns starfish, as well as toxic animals such as boxfish and sea hares.
Incredible Lifespan: Māori wrasse can live for about 30 years, but they grow slowly and take many years to reach maturity.
Unique Facial Patterns: Their intricate facial markings resemble traditional Māori tattoos, which is how they got their name.
Sex-Changing Abilities: Māori wrasse start life as females, and some change to males at around 9 years of age.

Quick Facts About the Maori Wrasse

Scientific name: Cheilinus undulatus
Also known as: Humphead Maori Wrasse (the Australian standard name), Napoleon Wrasse, Humphead Wrasse
Found in: the northern Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea, from about 2 m to 100 m deep; larger fish are usually on steep outer reef slopes
Diet: molluscs, fish, sea urchins and crustaceans, including toxic animals such as boxfish, sea hares and crown-of-thorns starfish
Size: the largest wrasse, up to 2.3 m and about 190 kg
Lifespan: about 30 years
Best chance of sighting: outer reef sites on the northern Great Barrier Reef

Scientific Classification

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
Order: Perciformes (some recent classifications: Labriformes)
Family: Labridae (wrasses)
Genus: Cheilinus
Species: Cheilinus undulatus
Conservation status: Endangered (IUCN, 2024); CITES Appendix II; no-take species in Queensland since 2003

Common Names

Primary: Humphead Maori Wrasse. Other names: Maori Wrasse, Napoleon Wrasse, Humphead Wrasse.

Related Species

Redbreast Maori Wrasse (Cheilinus fasciatus)
Tripletail Maori Wrasse (Cheilinus trilobatus)

Not to be confused with the Bumphead (Humphead) Parrotfish, a different fish that also has a hump on its head.

Identification Notes

A very large green to blue-green wrasse with thick lips and fine wavy markings on the face. Older fish develop a pronounced hump on the forehead. The Bumphead Parrotfish also has a hump, but it has a beak-like mouth instead of lips.

Role on the Reef

The Maori wrasse is one of the few predators that eats toxic animals such as boxfish, sea hares and crown-of-thorns starfish. It starts life as a female, and some fish change to male at around 9 years of age. Slow growth and late maturity make it vulnerable to overfishing, which is why it is protected in Queensland. Fish feeding in the Marine Park is restricted to permitted tour operators, so please don’t feed them yourself.

For schools and study groups
Learning about reef fish in class? We help schools, universities and study groups plan educational trips to the Great Barrier Reef. Depending on the program, groups can enjoy guided snorkelling and marine biology presentations.
Great Barrier Reef Educational Groups →

Maori Wrasse Frequently Asked Questions and Answers

What is a Maori Wrasse?

The Maori wrasse, the humphead wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus), is a large and colourful fish species around Australia’s Great Barrier Reef and other tropical regions. It’s known for its distinctive appearance, with a prominent hump on its head.

Why are they called Maori wrasses?

The name “Maori wrasse” likely comes from the distinctive facial markings of these fish, which may resemble traditional Maori facial tattoos. Their other common name, “humphead wrasse,” is derived from the prominent hump on their heads.

How big do Maori wrasses get?

Maori wrasses can grow to impressive sizes, up to 2.3 metres long and about 190 kilograms. They are the largest members of the wrasse family.

What do Maori wrasses eat?

These fish have a varied diet that includes a range of marine life. They feed on prey, including small fish, molluscs, crustaceans, and sea urchins. Their role in controlling sea urchin populations is important for the health of coral reefs.

Are Maori wrasses colourful?

Yes, Maori wrasses are renowned for their vibrant colours. Juvenile Maori wrasses often have green or olive-coloured bodies, while adults can display a dazzling array of hues, including blues, greens, and pinks. Their striking colours make them a favourite among underwater photographers.

Conservation and Protection

Due to their slow growth and late maturity, Māori wrasse faces threats from overfishing and habitat loss. They are listed as Endangered by the IUCN (2024) and included in CITES Appendix II, which controls international trade. In Queensland they have been a no-take species since 2003, so any caught must be released. When visiting the reef, following responsible snorkelling and diving practices is important to help protect these amazing creatures for future generations.

How to Have the Best Experience

If you’re eager to meet a Māori wrasse up close, book a tour with an experienced operator who knows the best spots to find them. Whether you choose a day tour or a liveaboard adventure, encountering one of these curious fish will surely be an unforgettable experience.

Plan Your Māori Wrasse Adventure Today

Ready to meet the Māori wrasse and explore the breathtaking underwater world of the Great Barrier Reef? Browse our range of snorkelling and diving tours to find the perfect adventure for you. These colourful characters are waiting to make your reef experience truly special!

Book your tour now and discover the magic of the Great Barrier Reef with the Māori wrasse!