The wrasses are a family, Labridae, of marine fish, many of which are brightly colored. The family is large and diverse, with over 600 species in 81 genera, which are divided into 9 subgroups or tribes. They are typically small, most of them less than 20 cm (7.9 in) long, although the largest, the humphead wrasse, can measure up to 2.5 m (8.2 ft). They are efficient carnivores, feeding on a wide range of small invertebrates. Many smaller wrasses follow the feeding trails of larger fish, picking up invertebrates disturbed by their passing. Juveniles of some representatives of the genera Bodianus, Epibulus, Cirrhilabrus, Oxycheilinus, and Paracheilinus hide among the tentacles of the free-living mushroom corals and Heliofungia actiniformis.
The ocellated wrasse is a species of wrasse native to the eastern Atlantic Ocean and throughout the Mediterranean Sea, the Black Sea, and the Sea of Azov. It inhabits areas with rocks and eelgrass at depths from 1 to 30 m. It feeds on various marine invertebrates. This species can reach 12 cm (4.7 in) in standard length. It can also be found in the aquarium trade.
The Asian sheepshead wrasse is one of the largest species of wrasse. Native to the western Pacific Ocean, it inhabits rocky reef areas around the Korean Peninsula, China, Japan, and the Ogasawara Islands. It can reach 100 cm (39 in) in total length and the greatest weight recorded for this species is 14.7 kg (32 lb). This species is valued for its sweet, shellfish-like taste.
The corkwing wrasse is a species of wrasse native to the eastern Atlantic Ocean from Norway to Morocco and out to the Azores, as well as being found in the Mediterranean Sea and the Adriatic Sea. This species can be found in areas of rock or eelgrass at depths from 1 to 30 m.
The goldsinny wrasse is a species of ray-finned fish, a wrasse from the family Labridae which is native to the eastern Atlantic Ocean and associated seas. This species is the only known member of its genus.
The orangeback fairy-wrasse is a species of wrasse endemic to Lembeh and the Tomini Bay in northern Sulawesi in Indonesia. It inhabits coral reefs and can be found at depths from 10 to 25 m. This species can reach a total length of 10 cm (3.9 in). It can be found in the marine aquarium trade.
Jansen's wrasse is a species of ray-finned fish, a wrasse from the family Labridae which is native to the Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean. In the south-western Pacific Ocean it is replaced by sibling species black-barred wrasse. It can be found in the aquarium trade.
Thalassoma amblycephalum, the blunt-headed wrasse, blue-headed wrasse, blue-headed zoe, moon wrasse, paddle-fin wrasse or two-tone wrasse, is a species of wrasse native to the Indian Ocean and the western Pacific Ocean. It is a reef inhabitant, being found in schools at depths from 1 to 15 m. This species can reach 16 cm (6.3 in) in standard length. It can also be found in the aquarium trade.
The blacktail wrasse, also known as Ballieu's wrasse, is a species of wrasse native to the waters around the Hawaiian Islands and Johnston Island. It is a reef dweller found at depths from 1 to 60 m. It can reach 39.5 cm (15.6 in) in length. It can also be found in the aquarium trade.
Symphodus is a genus of wrasses native to the eastern Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea.
Labrus viridis is a species of wrasse native to the eastern Atlantic Ocean from Portugal to Morocco, as well as through the Mediterranean Sea to the Black Sea. This species is found around rocky reefs amongst the rocks or in eelgrass beds. It can reach 47 cm (19 in) in standard length, though most do not exceed 37.5 cm (15 in). It is one of several species called green wrasse.
The brown wrasse is a species of wrasse native to the Eastern Atlantic from Portugal to Morocco, including the Azores, as well as in the Mediterranean Sea. This species can reach 45 cm (18 in) in standard length, though most do not exceed more than 40 cm (16 in).
The grey wrasse is a species of wrasse native to the eastern Atlantic Ocean and along the coasts of the Mediterranean Sea to the Black Sea. It inhabits coastal waters, preferring beds of eelgrass at depths from 1 to 20 m. It can reach 16 cm (6.3 in) in total length, though most do not exceed 8 cm (3.1 in). It is important to local peoples as a food fish and is popular as a game fish. It can also be found in the aquarium trade.
The pointed-snout wrasse, also known as the long-snout wrasse, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a wrasse from the family Labridae which is native to coastal waters of the Mediterranean Sea and the Black Sea. This species can also be found in the aquarium trade and is occasionally taken in artisanal fisheries.
The East Atlantic peacock wrasse is a species of wrasse native to the eastern Atlantic Ocean from Spain to Morocco and in the coastal waters of the Mediterranean Sea and the Black Sea. This species lives around rocks surrounded by eelgrass and can also be found in brackish waters in lagoons. It occurs at depths from 1 to 50 m. This species can reach 44 cm (17 in) in standard length, though most grow no larger than 25 cm (9.8 in). This species is sought as a game fish and is also important to local peoples as a food fish. It can also be found in the aquarium trade.
The five-spotted wrasse is a species of wrasse native to the eastern Atlantic Ocean from the Bay of Biscay to Morocco and through the coastal waters of the Mediterranean Sea and the Black Sea. This species inhabits rocky areas usually within beds of eelgrass at depths from 1 to 30 m. It can reach 17 cm (6.7 in) in standard length, though usually not more than 12 cm (4.7 in). This species is sought by local peoples as a food fish and can also be found in the aquarium trade.
The axillary wrasse is a species of wrasse native to the eastern Atlantic Ocean from the Azores and Madeira to the coasts of Portugal to Morocco and then along the coastal waters of the Mediterranean Sea. This species can be found in eelgrass beds at depths from 1 to 50 m. It can reach 18 cm (7.1 in) in standard length, though most do not exceed 12 cm (4.7 in). This species is important to local peoples as a food fish and is also sought as a game fish. It can also be found in the aquarium trade.
The smallspotted dart is an Indo-Pacific species of pompano in the family Carangidae.
Centrolabrus melanocercus, the black-tailed wrasse, is a species of marine ray-finned fish from the wrasse family Labridae which is found in the Mediterranean Sea and the Sea of Marmara. This species was formally described in 1810 as Lutjanus melanocercus by Antoine Risso with the type locality given as Saint Hospice near Villefranche-sur-Mer on the Mediterranean coast of France. This species was regarded as a member of the genus Symphodus but meristic and behavioural data placed it closer to the rock cook than the sexually dimorphic paternal nesting fishes in Symphodus. This species prefers areas with rocks or eelgrass at depths from 1 to 25 m. It can reach 14 cm (5.5 in) in total length, though most do not exceed 11 cm (4.3 in).
Symphodus caeruleus is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a wrasse from the family Labridae. It is endemic to the Azores in the eastern Atlantic Ocean.
