(Stord - Hordaland / 9 meters / 8.17.2004

Phylum: Chordata

Superclass: Gnathostomata

Class: Actinopterygii

Order: Perciformes

Family: Labridae

Scientific name: Labrus bimaculatus

 

Norwegian: blåstål/rødnebb

Distribution: The cuckoo wrasse (also known as Labrus mixtus) lives on rocky locations as far north as Trøndelag. During spring and summer it is often encountered among algae in the tidal zone. In the winter it migrates down below 15 meters.

Characteristics: It can hardly be confused with any other species. The body is slim and the head elongated. The male may reach a length of 35 cm, females do not exceed 30. The female is red or orange with three dark spots interspersed with white ones along the dorsal fin. Young males have a similar coloration but sometimes lacks the dark spots. At the age of seven or more, some females change sex. In this process they develop a blue head and brilliant blue lines and spots along the body. Often the dominated female change sex when the adult male in the shoal dies or disappears.

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