Labrus
TaxonLabrus
AuthorityLinnaeus, 1758
Type speciesLabrus mixtus
Type species authorityLinnaeus, 1758[1]
Synonyms

Labrus is a genus of wrasses native to the eastern Atlantic Ocean into the Mediterranean and Black seas.[2]

Biology

Like most wrasses, Labrus species are protogynous, and can undergo sex change from female to male. The form of protogyny differs between species, e.g., Labrus bergylta is monandric (all fish are born female but can develop into males), while Labrus mixtus is diandric (individuals can be born either male or female, and females can develop into males).[3] L. mixtus is sexually dimorphic in colouration, while L. bergylta is not.[4][3]

Species

The four currently recognized species in this genus are:[2]

SpeciesCommon nameTerminal phase
Labrus bergylta Ascanius, 1767Ballan wrasse
Labrus merula Linnaeus, 1758brown wrasse
Labrus mixtus Linnaeus, 1758cuckoo wrasse
Labrus viridis Linnaeus, 1758green wrasse

Fossil record

Fossils of Labrus are found from the Eocene to the Quaternary (age range: from 55.8 to 0.781 million years ago.). They are known from various localities of France, Italy and the United Kingdom.[5]

References

  1. ^
  2. ^
  3. ^ Dipper, F. A. & Pullin, R. S. V. (1979). "Gonochorism and sex-inversion in British Labridae (Pisces)". Journal of Zoology. 187 (1): 97–112. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.1979.tb07716.x. ISSN 1469-7998
  4. ^ Villegas-Ríos, David; Alonso-Fernández, Alexandre; Domínguez-Petit, Rosario; Saborido-Rey, Fran (2013). "Intraspecific variability in reproductive patterns in the temperate hermaphrodite fish, Labrus bergylta". Marine and Freshwater Research. 64 (12): 1156. Bibcode:2013MFRes..64.1156V. doi:10.1071/MF12362. ISSN 1323-1650
  5. ^ Paleobiology Database