Wrasses and Kindred Fish

The fish of this family are striking in appearance, with bright and variable colours, especially during the season for reproduction. Indeed the variations in colour are so marked and depend on such a variety of factors (age, sex, season, etc.) that the various species are particularly difficult to classify. Also, they have a wide variety of popular names, some usually denoting one member but others being used for any or all of them. Names in the latter class are the Provençal roucaou (or rouquier or rouquas), donzela (Venice), sabonero (Algeria). The general English name is wrasse, and the French equivalent vieille (although this is most properly used of Labrus bergylta Ascanius, the ballan wrasse, not listed as it is less common in the Mediterranean). A general Turkish name is ot balıkları (grass- or seaweed fish).