---
title: Wrasse (Labridae)
scientific_name: Labridae
common_name: Wrasse
rank: Family
published: 2024-11-19T18:41:51.573Z
updated: 2026-08-23T20:40:37.982Z
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 are the second largest family of fish in the sea, and the range inside it is absurd: from a five-centimeter possum wrasse hiding in rubble to the humphead wrasse at over two meters and two hundred kilograms, with several hundred species in between. Parrotfish are wrasses too, specialized for biting rock. If you cannot place a colorful reef fish, the odds are good it is one of these.

They all row. A wrasse swims with its pectoral fins, beating them like oars and keeping the tail folded for emergencies, which gives the family its unmistakable bustling flight and lets them hold position precisely while picking at something.

Most of them change sex. A wrasse matures as a female, and the largest fish in a group converts to male, rebuilding its gonads and repainting itself into a terminal-phase pattern so different from the female that many species were originally described twice, once for each phase. Remove that male and the biggest remaining female starts the change within days.

The cleaner wrasse is the one to watch. A small blue and black species sets up shop at a fixed spot on the reef and other fish queue for it, including predators that could swallow it, and hold still with their gills flared and mouths open while it works over their skin and inside their mouth removing parasites. The station is a genuine institution: clients from all over the reef, regular hours, and roughly two thousand visits a day for a busy cleaner. It also has a con artist's problem, because a cleaner would rather eat the client's mucus than its parasites, and clients that get bitten leave or chase the cleaner, so the cleaners behave better in front of an audience of waiting customers. That work made this small fish one of the most-studied animals in behavioral biology.

At night many wrasses bury themselves in sand or spin a mucus envelope to sleep in.


## 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 (Pteragogus 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 23, 2026*