The green wrasse grows to about 35 cm (14 in) and is a plump fish with a moderately large head. The eyes are large and the nostrils each have a double opening. The lips are thick and the mouth fairly small, with numerous large teeth. The back is slightly humped, and the belly is slightly convex. The skin is covered with large scales and is smooth and soft, being covered with mucus. The dorsal fin has 18 spines and 12 soft rays. The pectoral fins are large and the caudal fin undivided. In most individuals the colour is bright green with a blue line running along the flank, but some individuals are almost entirely black while others are spotted.[3]
DistributionEdit
The green wrasse is native to the eastern Atlantic Ocean between Portugal and Morocco, and most of the Mediterranean Sea, although it seems to be absent from the waters of Syria, Lebanon and Israel. It is also present in the western Black Sea. Its depth range is down to about 50 m (160 ft). Its typical habitat is in the vicinity of rocky reefs, especially those well-covered with seaweed, and seagrass meadows.[1]
EcologyEdit
The green wrasse can occur in small groups but is more often found singly or in pairs. It feeds on small fish, crustaceans and other invertebrates. It is probably a protogynous hermaphrodite, that is it starts life as a female but at some stage changes its sex to male. This means that male fish are normally larger than females. A breeding pair of fish will prepare a dish-shaped nest among vegetation, and the adhesive eggs laid by the female are guarded and cared for by the male.[1][2] The age of attaining maturity is probably three years, and the fish may live for twenty years.[1]
StatusEdit
This fish is generally uncommon. It is caught for food, including spearfishing for sport, and the total population is in decline, especially in the western Mediterranean, with fishing being a threat in all parts of its range.[1] Additionally, its habitat is being degraded as seagrass meadows disappear, so the International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed its conservation status as "vulnerable".[1]
ReferencesEdit
^ abcdefPollard, D.; Choat, J.H. (2010). "Labrus viridis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2010: e.T187654A8591882. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-4.RLTS.T187654A8591882.en. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
^ abcFroese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2019). "Labrus viridis" in FishBase. August 2019 version.
^Hill, John (1752). A General Natural History Or New and Accurate Description of the Animals, Vegetables and Minerals of the Different Parts of the World Etc. Osborne. p. 249.
External linksEdit
Media related to Labrus viridis at Wikimedia Commons
October 17, 2023
labrus, viridis, green, wrasse, species, wrasse, native, eastern, atlantic, ocean, from, portugal, morocco, well, through, mediterranean, black, this, species, found, around, rocky, reefs, amongst, rocks, eelgrass, beds, reach, standard, length, though, most, . Labrus viridis the green wrasse 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 2 It is one of several species called green wrasse Labrus viridisConservation statusVulnerable IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass ActinopterygiiOrder LabriformesFamily LabridaeGenus LabrusSpecies L viridisBinomial nameLabrus viridisLinnaeus 1758Synonyms 2 Labrus luscus Linnaeus 1758 Labrus turdus Linnaeus 1758 Labrus prasostictes Pallas 1814 Labrus viridis prasostictes Pallas 1814 Contents 1 Description 2 Distribution 3 Ecology 4 Status 5 References 6 External linksDescription EditThe green wrasse grows to about 35 cm 14 in and is a plump fish with a moderately large head The eyes are large and the nostrils each have a double opening The lips are thick and the mouth fairly small with numerous large teeth The back is slightly humped and the belly is slightly convex The skin is covered with large scales and is smooth and soft being covered with mucus The dorsal fin has 18 spines and 12 soft rays The pectoral fins are large and the caudal fin undivided In most individuals the colour is bright green with a blue line running along the flank but some individuals are almost entirely black while others are spotted 3 Distribution EditThe green wrasse is native to the eastern Atlantic Ocean between Portugal and Morocco and most of the Mediterranean Sea although it seems to be absent from the waters of Syria Lebanon and Israel It is also present in the western Black Sea Its depth range is down to about 50 m 160 ft Its typical habitat is in the vicinity of rocky reefs especially those well covered with seaweed and seagrass meadows 1 Ecology EditThe green wrasse can occur in small groups but is more often found singly or in pairs It feeds on small fish crustaceans and other invertebrates It is probably a protogynous hermaphrodite that is it starts life as a female but at some stage changes its sex to male This means that male fish are normally larger than females A breeding pair of fish will prepare a dish shaped nest among vegetation and the adhesive eggs laid by the female are guarded and cared for by the male 1 2 The age of attaining maturity is probably three years and the fish may live for twenty years 1 Status EditThis fish is generally uncommon It is caught for food including spearfishing for sport and the total population is in decline especially in the western Mediterranean with fishing being a threat in all parts of its range 1 Additionally its habitat is being degraded as seagrass meadows disappear so the International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed its conservation status as vulnerable 1 References Edit a b c d e f Pollard D Choat J H 2010 Labrus viridis IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2010 e T187654A8591882 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2010 4 RLTS T187654A8591882 en Retrieved 20 November 2021 a b c Froese Rainer Pauly Daniel eds 2019 Labrus viridis in FishBase August 2019 version Hill John 1752 A General Natural History Or New and Accurate Description of the Animals Vegetables and Minerals of the Different Parts of the World Etc Osborne p 249 External links Edit nbsp Media related to Labrus viridis at Wikimedia Commons Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Labrus viridis amp oldid 1162644138, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
