Wrasses

The wrasses, also known as the family Labridae, are a diverse group of marine fish known for their bright colors. The family is large, with over 600 different species in 81 genera, and is further divided into 9 subgroups or tribes. They are generally small in size, with most species measuring less than 20 cm in length, although the largest species, the humphead wrasse, can reach up to 2.5 m in length. Wrasses are efficient carnivores and feed on a wide range of small invertebrates. Many smaller wrasse species also follow the feeding trails of larger fish and pick up invertebrates disturbed by their passing. Some wrasse species, such as those in the genera Bodianus, Epibulus, Cirrhilabrus, Oxycheilinus, and Paracheilinus, are known to hide among the tentacles of free-living mushroom corals and Heliofungia actiniformis.