Slippery dick is a species of ocean-dwelling fish in the family Labridae. Its Spanish common name is "doncella rayada".

Physical description

The slippery dick has three color phases. Adults have two dark lateral stripes, one running from snout through eye to caudal base and the other, less pronounced, on the lower side of body. A small bicolored spot at edge of gill cover within upper dark stripe (all phases). Dark triangular corners on tail. Irregular light red bands on head and on caudal fin. Shades of green. Intermediates: Color vary greatly, from shades of light purple to dark brown. Juveniles are usually white and have two dark stripes, but the lower (abdominal) stripe may be faint. The slippery dick reaches about 30 centimetres (12 in) TL

Fish measurement

Fish measurement refers to the measuring of the length of individual fish and of various parts of their anatomy. These data are used in many areas of ichthyology, including taxonomy and fisheries biology.-Overall length:...

.

Distribution

This species originates from the Western Atlantic: North Carolina

North Carolina

North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...

 and Bermuda

Bermuda

Bermuda is a British overseas territory in the North Atlantic Ocean. Located off the east coast of the United States, its nearest landmass is Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, about to the west-northwest. It is about south of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, and northeast of Miami, Florida...

 to Brazil

Brazil

Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...

. Also Gulf of Mexico, Antilles, and coasts of Central and South America.

Habitat

The slippery dick is generally found in shallow reefs, and grass beds. Also can be found at the Jetty In Ponce Inlet Florida.

Ecology

This species feeds on benthic invertebrates, including crabs, sea urchins and ophiuroids

Brittle star

Brittle stars or ophiuroids are echinoderms in the class Ophiuroidea closely related to starfish. They crawl across the seafloor using their flexible arms for locomotion. The ophiuroids generally have five long slender, whip-like arms which may reach up to in length on the largest specimens...

, polychaete

Polychaete

The Polychaeta or polychaetes are a class of annelid worms, generally marine. Each body segment has a pair of fleshy protrusions called parapodia that bear many bristles, called chaetae, which are made of chitin. Indeed, polychaetes are sometimes referred to as bristle worms. More than 10,000...

s, and gastropods

Gastropoda

The Gastropoda or gastropods, more commonly known as snails and slugs, are a large taxonomic class within the phylum Mollusca. The class Gastropoda includes snails and slugs of all kinds and all sizes from microscopic to quite large...

. It is a protogynous hermaphrodite

Protogynous hermaphrodite

A protogynous hermaphrodite is an animal that begins its life cycle as a female. As the animal ages, based on internal or external triggers, it shifts sex to become a male animal. Many fish, such as the gag grouper, undergo just such a metamorphosis. Male fecundity goes up greatly with age more...

. These fish form leks while breeding. In North Carolina

North Carolina

North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...

, males defend temporary territories with peak spawning in May and June. Pair spawning typically occurs between females and terminal phase males; initial phase males occasionally try to insert themselves into the spawning event. Slippery dick is found in fairly large sizes (3-6") and after a relatively short period in the plankton. Peak recruitment occurred during the new moon and the highest amplitude tide.