WHATSTHATFISH
Bony fish

Cuckoo Wrasse

Labrus mixtus

Also known as: Red Wrasse, Striped Wrasse

LCLeast ConcernIUCN Red List, 2010
Adult
@fridis · Cork, Ireland · November 20141 / 1
01

Overview

Found singly, pairs or in family groups, over coral and rocky reefs rich in algae cover.

Most reef fish seen by divers during the day, are grazers, they cruise around, just above the surface of the coral, or snoop into crevices, foraging for food.
Wrasses have small protruding teeth, which they use to graze the bottom, taking in a variety of algae, crustaceans, such as crabs, eggs, shrimps, snails and worms. Any hard coats or thick shells, are then ground down by their pharyngeal jaws, and the delicacies inside digested.
From juvenile to adult, wrasses dramatically alter their colour and body shapes.
Wrasses are always on the go during the day, but are the first to go to bed and the last to rise.
Small wrasses dive below the sand to sleep, and larger wrasses wedge themselves in crevices.

02

How to identify

Behaviour
pairssolitary

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

03

Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Eastern Atlantic, Mediterranean
  • Country only · 1
LIVES IN

Found singly, pairs or in family groups, over coral and rocky reefs rich in algae cover.

04

Adult photos 1

05

Discussion 1

Comments are checked by a moderator before they appear.

1 comment

  • fishx6Top Contributor· 24 Nov 2014

    Your fish has been named, check it out in your gallery!

    Helpful
ALL STAGES
FOR THE MARINE-BIOLOGY CURIOUS

Deep dive

Taxonomy

  1. kingdomAnimalia
  2. phylumChordata
  3. classTeleostei
  4. orderEupercaria incertae sedis
  5. familyLabridae
  6. genusLabrus
  7. speciesLabrus mixtus Linnaeus, 1758

SourcesWoRMSFishBase

06

More in the family

Wrasses (Labridae)