Green Wrasse - Labrus viridis

In this video

Green Wrasse, Labrus viridis, is one of the most common Labridae in the Mediterranean Sea, while wikipedia tells us that it is a rare species due to indiscriminate fishing. Green Wrasse Tordo Marvizzo Labrus viridis intotheblue.it

Green Wrasse Labrus viridis intotheblue.it
Tordo Marvizzo Labrus viridis intotheblue.it

In this video we met him in two areas of Sardinia, Masua and Porto Pino, in two different cases. The seabed is more or less always the same: rocky bottom mixed with sand and the presence of Posidonia Oceanica. It is a rather curious species that can be approached fairly easily and which lends itself very well to being photographed since it displays various liveries, due to its hermaphroditism and the various stages of growth.

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). It is one of several species called green wrasse.

Description

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.

Distribution

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.

Ecology

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.The age of attaining maturity is probably three years, and the fish may live for twenty years.

Status

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. 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”.

https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labrus_viridis

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labrus_viridis

(Visited 488 times, 1 visits today)

You might be interested in