A diverse family of reef fish noted for vivid colors, protogynous sex change, and the role of cleaner species.
Where it lives
Over 600 wrasse species inhabit reefs, rocky shores, kelp forests, and seagrass meadows across tropical and temperate oceans. The diversity is staggering: tiny gobiosomes a few centimeters long, giant humphead wrasse over two meters, and the famous cleaner wrasses of tropical reefs.
How to recognise it
Most wrasses share a streamlined, slightly elongated body, thick lips, and prominent canine teeth. Color is typically intense and patterned, and many species show dramatic differences between initial-phase females and terminal-phase males. Swimming is usually by pectoral-fin rowing, an unusual gait.
Diet & behavior
Wrasses are mostly diurnal carnivores eating crustaceans, mollusks, brittle stars, and small fish. Cleaner wrasses set up “cleaning stations” where larger fish queue to be relieved of ectoparasites. Most wrasses are protogynous — born female and changing to male as they grow.
Fisheries & Conservation
Most species are Least Concern, but the humphead (Napoleon) wrasse is Endangered due to the live reef food fish trade. European wrasse are increasingly farmed as biological cleaners in salmon pens.
Find more fish by letter
Wrasse starts with W and ends with E. Browse other fish along the same letter.
Fish that contain a letter from "Wrasse":