The colored patterns on their bodies often includes distinct vertical bars or marbling, or light sparse spots. Their body is moderately compressed, with a length equal or superior to the head.
These diurnal and territorial fish are easily caught by fishermen and hunters. The larger species, including humphead wrasses, are on the highest levels of the food chain. Although most of the species of genus Oxycheilinus were originally classified into the Cheilinus genus, in 2020, only 7 species are officially described as Cheilinus members.Īll of these 7 species are predators in coral reefs. This genus is close to Doratonotus, Epibulus, Oxycheilinus and Wetmorella genera. In this family, a phylogenetic study describes two subgroups of the Cheilinini tribe, in which genus Cheilinus is included. These kinds of fish belong to the Labridae family, more commonly called wrasses.
