Axillary wrasse

The axillary wrasse (Symphodus mediterraneus) is a species of wrasse native to the eastern Atlantic Ocean from the Azores and Madeira to the coasts of Portugal to Morocco and then along the coastal waters of the Mediterranean Sea. This species can be found in eelgrass beds at depths from 1 to 50 m (3.3 to 164.0 ft). It can reach 18 cm (7.1 in) in standard length, though most do not exceed 12 cm (4.7 in). This species is important to local peoples as a food fish and is also sought as a game fish. It can also be found in the aquarium trade.^[2]

Axillary wrasse
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Labriformes
Family:	Labridae
Genus:	Symphodus
Species:	S. mediterraneus
Binomial name
Symphodus mediterraneus (Linnaeus, 1758)
Synonyms
List Perca mediterranea Linnaeus, 1758 Crenilabrus mediterraneus (Linnaeus, 1758) Lutjanus mediterraneus (Linnaeus, 1758) Labrus serpentinus Bonnaterre, 1788 Labrus coeruleovittatus Bonnaterre, 1788 Labrus unimaculatus J. F. Gmelin, 1789 Lutjanus massiliensis Lacépède, 1802 Lutjanus brunnichii Lacepède, 1802 Crenilabrus brunnichii (Lacepède, 1802) Labrus pittima Rafinesque, 1810 Crenilabrus boryanus A. Risso, 1827 Crenilabrus nigrescens A. Risso, 1827 Crenilabrus pictus R. T. Lowe, 1838

Adults are found mainly in eel-grass beds. Often in pairs. Males nest-makers. Feed mainly on mollusks, gastropods, bivalves, tubicolous worms, chitons, sea urchins and bryozoans.^[3] Oviparous, distinct pairing during breeding