Cuckoo wrasse

 

Scientific name : Labrus mixtus

 

Family : Labridae (wrasses, napoleons… 559 species)
Size : Up to 40 cm
Distribution : European coasts, from the Mediterranean Sea to Norway

 

Biology : The old male coquette is brilliantly colored, proving that cold-water fish can be as colorful as their tropical counterparts.
The female is smaller and orange in color. The male builds a gravel nest and fiercely defends the eggs.

 

IUCN status : Least concern