Head to head
Corkwing Wrasse vs Cuckoo Wrasse
Corkwing Wrasse
VS Cuckoo Wrasse
The corkwing wrasse and the cuckoo wrasse are two of the most colourful fish of rocky coasts in the north-eastern Atlantic, and both are favourites of divers around Britain and Ireland.
| Corkwing Wrasse | Cuckoo Wrasse | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Symphodus melops | Labrus mixtus |
| Relationship | A fellow member of the wrasse family, in a different genus from the cuckoo | A fellow member of the wrasse family, in a different genus from the corkwing |
| Size | Usually only 10 to 25 cm long | Usually around 25 to 35 cm long |
| Marks and colours | A dark spot on the base of the tail and a dark mark near the gill cover, with breeding males turning blue and green with a reddish or orange belly | Males have a blue head and a bright orange to yellow body with blue stripes, while females are orange with dark blotches along the back |
| Habitat | Close to the bottom among rocks and seaweed, often in shallow water | Rocky reefs and kelp forests, in deeper water than most other wrasses |
| Diet | Small crustaceans, snails, and other shellfish found among the rocks and seaweed | Crabs, shrimps, brittle stars, small molluscs, and other animals on the reef |
| Nesting | The male builds a nest of seaweed in a crevice in the rocks, and guards the eggs that the female lays there | Spawns in summer, with the male guarding a nest built in a hollow or among seaweed |
| Conservation status | Least Concern, widespread and common along rocky coasts from Norway to Morocco | Least Concern, widespread on rocky reefs from Norway to northwest Africa |
Corkwing Wrasse vs Cuckoo Wrasse: common questions
Which one is bigger?
The cuckoo wrasse, usually around 25 to 35 cm long, while the corkwing wrasse usually reaches only 10 to 25 cm.
Which one changes sex?
Female cuckoo wrasse change into males as they grow, giving the species two very different colour forms.
Which one lives in shallower water?
The corkwing wrasse, which lives close to the bottom among rocks and seaweed, often in shallow water.