Wrasse classification.
As I have said previously I wont get bogged down in science but some knowledge of the way wrasse are classified is very useful.
All wrasse belong to the family Labridae and are marine fish found all over the world, although most come from tropical and subtropical regions with only a small number from temperate seas. This family of fish is very large and varied with over 600 species in 82 genera. (different sources may have different numbers here). Again some sources then further divided the genera into 9 subgroups or tribes.
The word Labridae comes from the Latin Labrus meaning lips. Many species in the Labridae family have fleshy lips. In many parts of the world the local name for these fish often refers to their lips. The German name for these "lip-fishes" is Lippfische whilst the Dutch call them Lipvissen. The English name, wrasse, I understand derives from an old Cornish (wragh) or possibly Welsh word (gwrach) meaning old woman or hag. Nice.
Wrasses (2017)
For the Love of Wrasses Tea Yi Kai (MACNA 2014 video)
Wrasses are way cool Holly Kindsvater (2015 video)
All wrasse belong to the family Labridae and are marine fish found all over the world, although most come from tropical and subtropical regions with only a small number from temperate seas. This family of fish is very large and varied with over 600 species in 82 genera. (different sources may have different numbers here). Again some sources then further divided the genera into 9 subgroups or tribes.
The word Labridae comes from the Latin Labrus meaning lips. Many species in the Labridae family have fleshy lips. In many parts of the world the local name for these fish often refers to their lips. The German name for these "lip-fishes" is Lippfische whilst the Dutch call them Lipvissen. The English name, wrasse, I understand derives from an old Cornish (wragh) or possibly Welsh word (gwrach) meaning old woman or hag. Nice.
Wrasses (2017)
For the Love of Wrasses Tea Yi Kai (MACNA 2014 video)
Wrasses are way cool Holly Kindsvater (2015 video)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Labriforms
Family: Labridae
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Labriforms
Family: Labridae
Wrasses in the family Labridae usually have a long slender, somewhat compressed body with a pointed snout. Many have large canine teeth in the front of their jaws. They also have protrusible or protractile jaws. In fish this is a structural arrangement of the jaws that enables the fish to protrude (or extend) or withdraw the mouth at will. When fully protruded, the cavity of the mouth is enlarged to form a funnel-like space facilitating the uptake of food. Wrasse tend to have large cycloid scales, and a long-based dorsal fin that lacks a notch between the spiny and soft-rayed portions. This dorsal fin has eight to 21 spines and six to 21 soft rays depending on the genus. Wrasse can have a continuous or interrupted lateral line.
Classification of animals, including our lovely wrasse, has traditionally been done by looking at the animals morphology and anatomy. It will be interesting to see how things change when scientists increasingly use DNA evidence to look at the classification of animals.
Many genera of wrasse go through quite amazing phases in their development showing very different morphology (colour and shape) between the young juvenile stage and the adult form. There can also be big differences between male and female (sexual dimorphism) and even between dominant male and other males. Most wrasses are protogynous hermaphrodites, all begin life as either neuters or females and can turn into a male when the need arises.
Once we have some understanding of the way the fish are classified we can move into looking at various genera of wrasse. This is where the real interest for aquarists lies. I can get a bit hung up on using scientific names instead of common ones to ensure you get the right fish for your setup but their scientific names can also have fascinating and informative roots. A really good article, one worth a read, if you have any interest in the way fish are classified and named was written by Richard Aspinall in 2014 I believe. Fish Tales: The Binominal
Genera
Wrasse home page
Updated 3.10.20
Classification of animals, including our lovely wrasse, has traditionally been done by looking at the animals morphology and anatomy. It will be interesting to see how things change when scientists increasingly use DNA evidence to look at the classification of animals.
Many genera of wrasse go through quite amazing phases in their development showing very different morphology (colour and shape) between the young juvenile stage and the adult form. There can also be big differences between male and female (sexual dimorphism) and even between dominant male and other males. Most wrasses are protogynous hermaphrodites, all begin life as either neuters or females and can turn into a male when the need arises.
Once we have some understanding of the way the fish are classified we can move into looking at various genera of wrasse. This is where the real interest for aquarists lies. I can get a bit hung up on using scientific names instead of common ones to ensure you get the right fish for your setup but their scientific names can also have fascinating and informative roots. A really good article, one worth a read, if you have any interest in the way fish are classified and named was written by Richard Aspinall in 2014 I believe. Fish Tales: The Binominal
Genera
Wrasse home page
Updated 3.10.20