Labrus

Labrus is a genus of wrasses native to the eastern Atlantic Ocean into the Mediterranean and Black seas.^[3]

Labrus Temporal range: Eocene–Recent PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
Cuckoo wrasse (L. mixtus)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Labriformes
Family:	Labridae
Genus:	Labrus Linnaeus, 1758
Type species
Labrus mixtus Linnaeus, 1758[1]
Synonyms[2]
Cicla Artedi, 1793

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).^[4] L. mixtus is sexually dimorphic in colouration, while L. bergylta is not.^[5][4]

Species

The four currently recognized species in this genus are:^[3]

Species	Common name	Terminal phase
Labrus bergylta Ascanius, 1767	Ballan wrasse
Labrus merula Linnaeus, 1758	brown wrasse
Labrus mixtus Linnaeus, 1758	cuckoo wrasse
Labrus viridis Linnaeus, 1758	green wrasse

Fossil record

Fossil of Labrus valenciennesii

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.^[6]