Pointed-snout wrasse facts for kids
The pointed-snout wrasse (Symphodus rostratus), also known as the long-snout wrasse, is a type of fish that lives in the sea. It belongs to the Labridae family, which are known as wrasses. You can find this fish in the coastal waters of the Mediterranean Sea and the Black Sea. Sometimes, people catch them for food or keep them in aquariums.
Quick facts for kids Pointed-snout wrasse |
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What Does the Pointed-Snout Wrasse Look Like?
The pointed-snout wrasse has a slim body and a small head. Its snout is long and pointed, which helps it find food. It has a long fin on its back called a dorsal fin. This fin has 14 to 16 hard spines and 9 to 12 soft rays.
Its fin underneath, the anal fin, is shorter. It has 3 spines and 9 to 11 soft rays. The fish's body is covered with large scales. It is usually green or brownish. It also has darker marks on its sides and back.
You might see a white stripe on its head. This stripe runs from its snout to the start of its dorsal fin. A four-year-old fish can be about 10.3 centimeters (about 4 inches) long. During the breeding season, male wrasses become much brighter in color.
Where Does This Wrasse Live?
The pointed-snout wrasse lives along the coasts of the Mediterranean Sea. It is also found in the western part of the Black Sea. These areas are its natural home.
Life in the Ocean
This wrasse likes to live near rocks. It often hides in beds of eelgrass like Zostera and Posidonia. You can find them in waters from 1 to 30 meters (about 3 to 98 feet) deep. They usually swim in small groups.
What Does the Pointed-Snout Wrasse Eat?
The pointed-snout wrasse eats small creatures that live on the seabed. These include molluscs (like snails or clams), crustaceans (like crabs or shrimp), and echinoderms (like sea urchins). Its special pointed snout helps it pick food out of small cracks and holes in the rocks.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
Pointed-snout wrasses lay their eggs in the spring. The male wrasse builds a nest using plant materials. He then guards this nest carefully. One or more females will lay their sticky eggs inside the nest.
These fish become ready to have babies when they are about one year old. They usually live for 3 to 4 years. Male wrasses tend to grow faster than females. After the baby fish hatch, they eat tiny floating organisms called plankton for their first few weeks.
Wrasse and Humans
Sometimes, local fishermen catch the pointed-snout wrasse. When caught, it can be eaten. It is often used to make fish soup in the areas where it lives.
