Can anyone Identify the sex?

[SarHa]

Can anyone help me identify if this is a juvenile or a male wrasse please?

 

[eatbreakfast]

Can anyone help me identify if this is a juvenile or a male wrasse please?

Female M. ornatus.

 

[cnseekatz]

I believe that's a male ornatus. The females I've seen are more red, the males more green. What I've read says that the coloration can be the same between male and female but the females always have a black spot on the spine, right where the dorsal fin starts (aligned to the base of the pectoral fin).

Female

Male

 

[cnseekatz]

Here's a picture of a female I had. Notice the black spot at the front of the dorsal fin. It was hard to tell in your photos, but I didn't see that spot.

 

[eatbreakfast]

Look at the markings in the cheek. In females they are unconnected. As they transition those markings begin to connect until they are facial striations. The op's markings aren't connected. Therefore, it's a female.

 

[eatbreakfast]

The spot on the front of the dorsal is on males.

 

[cnseekatz]

The spot on the front of the dorsal is on males.

"The coloration of the male and female is the same with one exception, the female has a black spot on the spine aligned with the base of pectoral fin. "
http://animal-world.com/encyclo/marine/wrasses/OrnateLeopardWrasse.php

Your photo is a female.

 

[ahiggins]

It looks like a male to me

Disclaimer: Im no where near an expert, just my thoughts :)

 

[Lionfish Lair]

Male:

Female:

 

[Lionfish Lair]

Sorry about above. I was trying to quote evolved.

EDIT: I think I fixed the above.... did I fix it? My internet connection hates me.

Male:

Female:

 

[evolved]

It's one of the worst species to try an judge the transition point on; it's always very subjective. Both male and female have that black spot on the dorsal to some degree; it's the males that also develop the discernible yellow/orange spot above it.

I will say it's a transitional male, and not because of the color nor the dorsal spot, but rather how the pattern is becoming on the sides of the body - uniform circles.

 

[SarHa]

In your pictures, it appears that the female has a pointy head as the male has a more round head, is that any way to differentiate the two?

 

[SarHa]

 

[SarHa]

I know the lighting is bad in some of these photos.

 

[eatbreakfast]

In your pictures, it appears that the female has a pointy head as the male has a more round head, is that any way to differentiate the two?

To me it still is clearly a female. The patterning on the face is not connected yet, the striping on the bottom of the body behind the head is still there and that goes away in males, and it doesn't have the body depth and facial roundness of males.