Corkwing Wrasse

The corkwing wrasse is a small, colourful wrasse common in rocky and kelp-rich shallows across temperate Atlantic and Mediterranean waters. Males display vivid breeding colours — blues, greens, and oranges on the head and body — while females and non-breeding fish are more subdued. These wrasses rarely exceed 25 cm and feed on small crustaceans and molluscs, often seen picking at the seabed or among kelp fronds in 2–20 m of water. Males build and defend small nests, exhibiting elaborate courtship displays.