Wrasse facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Wrasses |
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| Moon wrasse, Thalassoma lunare, a typical wrasse | |
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Labroidei
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Labridae
Cuvier, 1816
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See text. |
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The wrasses are a family, the Labridae, of marine fish, many of which are brightly coloured. The family is large and diverse, with over 600 species in 82 genera.
They are typically small fish, mostly less than 20 centimetres (7.9 in) long, although the largest, the Humphead wrasse, can measure up to 2.5 metres (8.2 ft).
Feeding methods
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.
Wrasses can put their jaws forwards, usually with separate jaw teeth that jut outwards.
Many species can be recognized by their thick lips. The inside of these lips is curiously folded, which gave rise the German name of Lippfische. The dorsal fin has 8–21 spines and 6–21 soft rays, usually running most of the length of the back.
Wrasse are sexually dimorphic. Many species are capable of changing sex. Juveniles are a mix of males and females (known as Initial Phase or IP individuals) but the largest adults become territory-holding (Terminal Phase or TP) males.
The word "wrasse" comes via Cornish from the Welsh word gwrach meaning an old woman or hag.
Images for kids
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Lips of Labrus festivus
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Giant Napoleon wrasse Cheilinus undulatus in Apo Reef, Philippines
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Humphead wrasse, Cheilinus undulatus, Melbourne Aquarium
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Yellowtail wrasse, Coris gaimard, Hawaii
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A yellowtail coris wrasse, Coris gaimard, is being cleaned by Labroides phthirophagus in Hawaii.
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Bird wrasse, Gomphosus varius, Kona (Hawaii)
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Gomphosus caeruleus swimming with a yellow goatfish
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Bluehead wrasse, Belize Barrier Reef
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Clown wrasse, Coris aygula, Red Sea
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Pearl wrasse, Anampses cuvieri, Hawaii
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Bluestreak wrasse, Labroides dimidiatus
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Six-line wrasse , Pseudocheilinus hexataenia
See also
In Spanish: Labridae para niños
