---
title: Wrasse (Labridae)
scientific_name: Labridae
common_name: Wrasse
rank: Family
published: 2024-11-19T18:41:51.573Z
updated: 2026-08-03T21:24:57.737Z
tags: Wrasse, Labridae, Red Sea, Marine Life, Diving
url: https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/wrasse
---

# Wrasse (*Labridae*)

## Quick facts

- **Rank:** Family
- **Scientific name:** Labridae
- **Body shape:** Elongate - Long and slender, but still fish-shaped - trumpetfishes, needlefishes, cornetfishes.
- **Species listed here:** 61

## How to recognise this group

- elongate, somewhat compressed body
- often vibrant colours and intricate patterns
- protrusible mouth
- single dorsal fin along most of the back

Wrasses (family Labridae) are a diverse group of marine fish, typically with elongated, compressed bodies, often brightly coloured and patterned. Most species measure under 20 cm (7.9 in) in length, though the largest reaches 2.5 m (8.2 ft). They possess protracted mouths with separate, protruding teeth, and many species have thick lips. Their single dorsal fin, comprising 8-21 spines and 6-21 soft rays, stretches along most of their back. The common name 'wrasse' derives from a Cornish word meaning 'old woman' or 'hag'.

These diurnal fish inhabit shallow coral reefs, rocky areas, and seagrass beds, generally staying close to the substrate from the surface down to approximately 60 m (200 ft). They are carnivorous, feeding on diverse small invertebrates. At night, many species bury themselves in sand or seek shelter in crevices. Many wrasse species are sexually dimorphic, with some exhibiting protogynous hermaphroditism, changing sex from female to male. Several species, such as the Bluestreak Cleaner Wrasse, perform a vital role by maintaining fixed cleaning stations where they remove parasites from other reef fish.


## Species (61)

- [Abudjubbe Wrasse (Cheilinus abudjubbe)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/wrasse/abudjubbe-wrasse)
- [African Coris (Coris cuvieri)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/wrasse/african-coris)
- [Axilspot Hogfish (Bodianus axillaris)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/wrasse/axilspot-hogfish)
- [Blackeye Thicklip Wrasse (Hemigymnus melapterus)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/wrasse/blackeye-thicklip-wrasse)
- [Blackstripe Wrasse (Oxycheilinus arenatus)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/wrasse/blackstripe-wrasse)
- [Bluelined Wrasse (Stethojulis albovittata)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/wrasse/bluelined-wrasse)
- [Bluespotted Wrasse (Anampses caeruleopunctatus)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/wrasse/bluespotted-wrasse)
- [Bluestreak Cleaner Wrasse (Labroides dimidiatus)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/wrasse/bluestreak-cleaner-wrasse)
- [Broomtail Wrasse (Cheilinus lunulatus)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/wrasse/broomtail-wrasse)
- [Checkerboard Wrasse (Halichoeres hortulanus)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/wrasse/checkerboard-wrasse)
- [Cheek-lined Wrasse (Oxycheilinus digramma)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/wrasse/cheek-lined-wrasse)
- [Chiseltooth Wrasse (Pseudodax moluccanus)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/wrasse/chiseltooth-wrasse)
- [Cigar Wrasse (Cheilio inermis)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/wrasse/cigar-wrasse)
- [Clark’s Wrasse (Pteragogus clarkae)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/wrasse/clarks-wrasse)
- [Clown Coris (Coris aygula)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/wrasse/clown-coris)
- [Cocktail Wrasse (Pteragogus flagellifer)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/wrasse/cocktail-wrasse)
- [Crescent-tail Hogfish (Bodianus sepiacaudus)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/wrasse/crescent-tail-hogfish)
- [Cryptic Wrasse (Pterogogus cryptus)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/wrasse/cryptic-wrasse)
- [Cutribbon Wrasse (Stethojulis interrupta)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/wrasse/cutribbon-wrasse)
- [Dapple Coris (Coris variegata)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/wrasse/dapple-coris)
- [Dark Side Wrasse (Halichoeres iridis)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/wrasse/dark-side-wrasse)
- [Diana's Hogfish (Bodianus diana)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/wrasse/dianas-hogfish)
- [Double Bar Wrasse (Wetmorella bifasciata)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/wrasse/double-bar-wrasse)
- [Dusky Wrasse (Halichoeres marginatus)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/wrasse/dusky-wrasse)
- [Eight-striped Flasher Wrasse (Paracheilinus octotaenia)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/wrasse/eight-striped-flasher-wrasse)
- [Fivefinger Razorfish (Iniistius pentadactylus)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/wrasse/fivefinger-razorfish)
- [Fourline Wrasse (Larabicus quadrilineatus)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/wrasse/fourline-wrasse)
- [Green Birdmouth Wrasse (Gomphosus caeruleus)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/wrasse/green-birdmouth-wrasse)
- [Klunzinger's Wrasse (Thalassoma rueppellii)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/wrasse/klunzingers-wrasse)
- [Lined Wrasse (Anampses lineatus)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/wrasse/lined-wrasse)
- [Longfin Fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus rubriventralis)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/wrasse/longfin-fairy-wrasse)
- [Lyretail Hogfish (Bodianus anthioides)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/wrasse/lyretail-hogfish)
- [Mental Wrasse (Oxycheilinus mentalis)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/wrasse/mental-wrasse)
- [Moon Wrasse (Thalassoma lunare)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/wrasse/moon-wrasse)
- [Morse Hogfish (Bodianus rubrisos)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/wrasse/morse-hogfish)
- [Napoleon Wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/wrasse/napoleon-wrasse)
- [Nebulous Wrasse (Halichoeres nebulosus)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/wrasse/nebulous-wrasse)
- [Oriental Wrasse (Oxycheilinus orientalis)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/wrasse/oriental-wrasse)
- [Pastel Ringwrasse (Hologymnosus doliatus)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/wrasse/pastel-ringwrasse)
- [Peacock Razorfish (Iniistius pavo)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/wrasse/peacock-razorfish)
- [Purple-boned Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus blatteus)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/wrasse/purple-boned-wrasse)
- [Queen Coris (Coris formosa)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/wrasse/queen-coris)
- [Red Sea Bird Wrasse (Gomphosus klunzingeri)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/wrasse/red-sea-bird-wrasse)
- [Red Sea Vermiculate Wrasse (Macropharyngodon marisrubri)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/wrasse/red-sea-vermiculate-wrasse)
- [Red-breasted Wrasse (Cheilinus quinquecinctus)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/wrasse/red-breasted-wrasse)
- [Red-striped Hogfish (Bodianus opercularis)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/wrasse/red-striped-hogfish)
- [Ring Wrasse (Hologymnosus annulatus)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/wrasse/ring-wrasse)
- [Robust Tuskfish (Choerodon robustus)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/wrasse/robust-tuskfish)
- [Rockmover Wrasse (Novaculichthys taeniourus)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/wrasse/rockmover-wrasse)
- [Seagrass Wrasse (Novaculoides macrolepidotus)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/wrasse/seagrass-wrasse)
- [Sixbar Thicklip Wrasse (Hemigymnus sexfasciatus)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/wrasse/sixbar-thicklip-wrasse)
- [Sixline Wrasse (Pseudocheilinus hexataenia)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/wrasse/sixline-wrasse)
- [Slingjaw Wrasse (Epibulus insidiator)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/wrasse/slingjaw-wrasse)
- [Spot-tail Wrasse (Coris caudimacula)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/wrasse/spot-tail-wrasse)
- [Spotted Wrasse (Anampses meleagrides)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/wrasse/spotted-wrasse)
- [Striated Wrasse (Pseudocheilinus evanidus)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/wrasse/striated-wrasse)
- [Surge Wrasse (Thalassoma purpureum)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/wrasse/surge-wrasse)
- [Threespot Wrasse (Pteragogus trispilus)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/wrasse/threespot-wrasse)
- [Twospot Hogfish (Bodianus bimaculatus)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/wrasse/twospot-hogfish)
- [Yellow-breasted Wrasse (Anampses twistii)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/wrasse/yellow-breasted-wrasse)
- [Zigzag Wrasse (Halichoeres scapularis)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/wrasse/zigzag-wrasse)

---

*Source: [Red Sea Creatures](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/wrasse)*
*Updated: August 3, 2026*