What Divers Should Know About Wrasse

Characterized by their protractile mouths and often thick, curiously folded lips, many wrasse species are readily identified underwater. These marine ray-finned fish, belonging to the diverse Labridae family, frequently display vibrant coloration, adding splashes of brilliance to shallow reef environments across tropical and subtropical oceans.

Most wrasses encountered are typically small, under 20 cm in length, though the impressive humphead wrasse can reach up to 2.5 meters. As efficient carnivores, they patrol coral reefs and rocky shores, staying close to the substrate in search of small invertebrates. Keep an eye out for smaller wrasses following larger fish, scavenging on organisms disturbed by their passing. Juveniles of certain genera also exhibit fascinating camouflage, hiding among the tentacles of free-living mushroom corals.