HomeMarine aquarium fishWrassesCuckoo wrasse Cuckoo wrasse (Labrus mixtus) Scientific name: Labrus mixtus Linnaeus, 1758 The Cuckoo wrasse (Labrus mixtus) is a marine fish of the family Labridae. Native range: Eastern Atlantic, Norway south to Senegal, Azores and Madeira. Also in the Mediterranean. BiologyAdults are found in the algal zone of rocky shores. Usually solitary or in pairs with young. Females lay about 1,000 eggs in a nest of algae; the nest is guarded by the male. Feed mainly on crustaceans but also fishes and mollusks and worms. Oviparous.Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0. Species factsScientific nameLabrus mixtusFamilyLabridae (Wrasses)OrderPerciformes (Perch-like fish)ClassActinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)Maximum length40.0Common length30.0Depth range2–200 m (7–656 ft)EnvironmentMarine; reef-associated; non-migratory; depth range 2 - 200 m, usually 40 - 80 mClimateSubtropicalDistributionEastern Atlantic: Norway south to Senegal, Azores and Madeira. Also in the Mediterranean.Conservation status (IUCN)Least Concern (LC)Threat to humansHarmlessUsesFisheries: subsistence fisheries; gamefish: yes; aquarium: public aquariumsResilienceLow, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (K=0.13; tmax=17; tm=2; Fec=1,000) More wrassesCortez rainbow wrasseThalassoma lucasanumBlack leopard wrasseMacropharyngodon kuiteriChoat's wrasseMacropharyngodon choatiGoldstripe wrasseHalichoeres zeylonicusRedfin wrasseCirrhilabrus rubripinnisLubbock's wrasseCirrhilabrus lubbockiSee 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