Fish
Corkwing Wrasse
Symphodus melops
In a shallow, weedy gully at low tide, a male corkwing wrasse flares blue and green over a tangle of seaweed he has built into a nest.
Overview
The corkwing wrasse, Symphodus melops, is a Least Concern wrasse of rocky shores and seaweed beds along the north-eastern Atlantic coast. Its small size, breeding colours, and nest-building males make it one of the most appealing fish of European rock pools and shallow reefs.
A fish that builds a nursery
The male corkwing collects seaweed to build a nest in a rock crevice, then guards the eggs against fish that would like to eat them.
Status
Least Concern, widespread and common.
Corkwing Wrasse: common questions
How can you tell a corkwing wrasse?
It has a dark spot on the base of its tail and a dark mark near the gill cover, and the breeding male turns blue and green.
Who builds the nest?
The male builds a nest of seaweed in a crevice in the rocks, and guards the eggs that the female lays there.
How big is the corkwing wrasse?
It usually reaches only 10 to 25 cm in length.
Where is the corkwing wrasse found?
It lives on rocky shores and in seaweed beds of the north-eastern Atlantic, from Norway to Morocco.