Teleostei (teleosts) >
Eupercaria/misc (Various families in series Eupercaria) >
Labridae (Wrasses) > Labrinae
Etymology: Symphodus: Greek, syn, symphysis = grown together + Greek, odous = teeth (Ref. 45335).
Eponymy: Clément Honoré Claude Roissal (also spelt Roassal) (1781–1850) was a close friend of the author, Risso, and an amateur artist. Both Risso and Roissal came from Nice (now in France, but then in the Duchy of Savoy). (Ref. 128868), visit book page.
More on author: Risso.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; brackish; reef-associated; depth range 1 - 30 m (Ref. 4742). Subtropical; 48°N - 30°N, 10°W - 42°E
Eastern Atlantic: Gulf of Gascogne to Gibraltar including the Mediterranean and Black Sea.
Length at first maturity / Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm 6.0, range 5 - 7 cm
Max length : 17.0 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 4742); common length : 12.0 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 4742); max. reported age: 8 years (Ref. 4742)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Adults are found near rocks, mainly in eel-grass beds (Ref. 4742). Mainly solitary (Ref. 4742). Nest of seaweed built by male (Ref. 4742). Feed on mollusks, bivalves, gastropods, shrimps, sea-urchins and hydroids (Ref. 4742). Males grow faster than females (Ref. 4742). Oviparous, distinct pairing during breeding (Ref. 205).
Oviparous, distinct pairing during breeding (Ref. 205). Each male builds a nest of seaweed for one or two females to spawn in (Ref. 4742).
Quignard, J.-P. and A. Pras, 1986. Labridae. p. 919-942. In P.J.P. Whitehead, M.-L. Bauchot, J.-C. Hureau, J. Nielsen and E. Tortonese (eds.) Fishes of the north-eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean. UNESCO, Paris. Vol. 2. (Ref. 4742)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: subsistence fisheries; aquarium: commercial
Tools
Special reports
Download XML
Internet sources
