Labridae

Labridae is a diverse family of marine ray-finned fish, commonly known as wrasses. It belongs to the order Perciformes and comprises hundreds of species across many genera. In some classifications, the parrotfishes are treated as the subfamily Scarinae within Labridae or as a separate family Scaridae. The family is distributed worldwide in tropical and subtropical seas, with the greatest diversity in the Indo-Pacific.

Wrasses are typically elongated, laterally compressed, and brightly colored. They often have small mouths with protrusible jaws that can extend to pick prey from crevices. Body sizes range from less than 5 cm to more than 2 m in the case of the humphead wrasse Cheilinus undulatus.

Wrasses inhabit a variety of reef-associated environments, including coral reefs, rocky reefs, seagrass beds, and shallow lagoons. Most species are diurnal, though some venture into deeper or more turbid waters. They exhibit diverse feeding strategies, from small invertebrates and crustaceans to mollusks and, in some cases, coral polyps.

Reproduction in many labrids is characterized by protogynous hermaphroditism, where individuals begin life as females and later change to males, along with territorial or harem-based social structures. Spawning can occur in pairs or during synchronized group events, often tied to lunar cycles in reef ecosystems.

Ecology and conservation: wrasses are mid-level predators that influence reef community dynamics and biogeochemical processes through their diverse foraging. They are popular in the saltwater aquarium trade and are affected by overfishing and habitat degradation. Some species, including the humphead wrasse, are protected under international conservation agreements.