HomeMarine aquarium fishWrassesCorkwing wrasse Corkwing wrasse (Symphodus melops) Scientific name: Symphodus melops Linnaeus, 1758 The Corkwing wrasse (Symphodus melops) is a marine fish of the family Labridae. Native range: Eastern Atlantic, Norway to Morocco and the Azores. Also known from the western Mediterranean and Adriatic seas. BiologyThis schooling, territorial fish occurs in the littoral zone, near rocks and eel-grass beds, also in lagoons. In summer ripe females show short ovipositor. Seaweed nest built by male among rocks or in crevices. Sex reversal sometimes observed. Feed on mollusks, hydroids, bryozoans, worms and various crustaceans. Males grow faster than females. Oviparous, distinct pairing during breeding.Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0. Species factsScientific nameSymphodus melopsFamilyLabridae (Wrasses)OrderPerciformes (Perch-like fish)ClassActinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)Maximum length28.0Common length20.0EnvironmentMarine; reef-associated; non-migratory, usually 1 - 30 mClimateTemperateDistributionEastern Atlantic: Norway to Morocco and the Azores. Also known from the western Mediterranean and Adriatic seas.Conservation status (IUCN)Least Concern (LC)Threat to humansHarmlessUsesFisheries: subsistence fisheries; gamefish: yes; aquarium: public aquariumsResilienceMedium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (K=0.21-0.41; tm=2-3; tmax=9) More wrassesMediterranean rainbow wrasseCoris julisBallan wrasseLabrus bergyltaBlackspot cleaner wrasseLabroides pectoralisBicolor cleaner wrasseLabroides bicolorChristmas wrasseThalassoma trilobatumFivestripe wrasseThalassoma quinquevittatumSee all wrasses SourcesTaxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.Last updated 27 September 2026