Epibulus insidiator

The slingjaw wrasse, Epibulus insidiator, is a species of wrasse native to the tropical waters of the Indo-Pacific from the Red Sea and the African coast to the Tuamotus and Hawaii, and from the southern waters of Japan to New Caledonia. This species can be found on coral reefs at depths from 1 to 42 m (3.3 to 137.8 ft). It can reach a standard length of 54 cm (21 in). This species is of minor importance to local commercial fisheries and can be found in the aquarium trade. The sling-jaw wrasse possesses the most extreme jaw protrusion found among fishes. The species can extend its jaws up to 65% the length of its head. The speed and length to which the jaw protrudes allows it to capture small fish and crustaceans. The genus this species belongs to possess one unique ligament (vomero-interopercular) and two enlarged ligaments (interoperculo-mandibular and premaxilla-maxilla), which along with a few changes to the form of cranial bones, allow it to achieve extreme jaw protrusion.