see text Hypoplectrus is a genus of fishes commonly known as hamlets, found mainly in coral reefs in the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico, particularly around Florida and the Bahamas.

They are a popular choice for hobbyist saltwater aquariums, and come in a variety of colors.

There are currently 17 recognized species in this genus: Hamlets are simultaneous hermaphrodites (or synchronous hermaphrodites): They have both male and female sexual organs at the same time as an adult, meaning that they function as a male and female, making them one of the few vertebrates that are male and female at the same time.

They seem quite at ease mating in front of divers, allowing observations in the wild to occur readily.

Hamlets preferentially mate with individuals of their same color pattern.