Labrus Explained

Labrus is a genus of wrasses native to the eastern Atlantic Ocean into the Mediterranean and Black seas.

Species

The four currently recognized species in this genus are:

• Labrus bergylta Ascanius, 1767 (Ballan wrasse)
• Labrus merula Linnaeus, 1758 (brown wrasse)
• Labrus mixtus Linnaeus, 1758 (cuckoo wrasse)
• Labrus viridis Linnaeus, 1758 (green wrasse)

Fossil record

Fossils of Labrus are found from the Eocene to the Quaternary (age range: from 55.8 to 0.781 million years ago.). They are known from various localities of France, Italy and the United Kingdom.^[1]

Notes and References

1. http://www.fossilworks.org/cgi-bin/bridge.pl?a=taxonInfo&taxon_no=36063 Paleobiology Database