Corkwing Wrasse
Symphodus melops
Identification
A small wrasse of 15 to 25 cm with a deep, oval body. Characteristic dark spot behind the eye and a second crescent-shaped spot on the tail base. Variable colors: greenish-brown, yellowish, or reddish, often with a mosaic pattern.
Ecology
Lives on rocky bottoms with dense seaweed in shallow coastal water to 15 meters. Males build a distinctive bowl-shaped nest from seaweed in rock crevices, where multiple females deposit eggs. Males guard the nest fiercely.
In the Netherlands
Found near hard substrates along the Zeeland coast, near groynes and wrecks. Not common due to limited rocky habitat. In the UK, used as a cleaner fish in salmon farming.
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Seasonal patterns
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Key predictors
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