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Family Taxonomy

Labrids are the second most diverse marine fish family, with more than 80 genera and 500 species (the family Gobiidae is the most diverse). More than half the genera are found in Australian waters, with about 230 species in 56 genera known. Molecular studies by Clements et al. (2004) and Westneat & Alfaro (2005) indicated the Labridae was not a natural group without the inclusion of the genera and species that were previously included in the families Odacidae (Weed whitings) and Scaridae (Parrotfishes).

Family Distribution

Widespread in tropical and temperate coastal and continental shelf waters throughout the world. Wrasses mostly live in association with coral and rocky reefs, although some species live on open sandy bottoms, and others amongst seagrasses and macroalgae.

Family Description

Wrasses usually have a long slender, somewhat compressed body, with a pointed snout, large canine teeth in the front of their jaws, large cycloid scales, and a long-based dorsal fin that lacks a notch between the spinous and soft-rayed portions. They also have protrusible jaws, and members of the slingjaw genus, Epibulus, have the most protractile jaws of any known fish.

Family Size

Range in size from less than 5 cm to the giant Humphead Maori Wrasse, Cheilinus undulatus, that grows to about 2.3 metres and a weights of more than 150 kg.

Family Feeding

Wrasses feed on a wide variety of organisms, including fishes, zooplankton, molluscs, polychaetes, decapod crstaceans, corals, algae.

Family Reproduction

Among fishes, wrasses have some of the most unusual and complex reproductive systems.

Most are sequential hermaphrodites (protogynous), changing sex from female to male when necessary during their life cycle. These males are called secondary males.

However, some species only have primary males (born male), whereas in other species, the population consists of both primary and secondary males.

Family Commercial

Many wrasses are commercially important.

Author

Bray, D.J. 2017

References


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