Black-tailed wrasse
(Centrolabrus melanocercus)

Classification

Species: Centrolabrus melanocercus

General data

Scientific names: Black-tailed wrasse
Habitat: Saltwater
Climate: Subtropical
Native to coasts of: Africa, Europe, Asia

Centrolabrus melanocercus, the black-tailed wrasse, is a species of marine ray-finned fish from the wrasse family Labridae which is found in the Mediterranean Sea and the Sea of Marmara.

This species was regarded as a member of the genus Symphodus but meristic and behavioural data placed it closer to the rock cook than the sexually dimorphic paternal nesting fishes in Symphodus.

This species prefers areas with rocks or eelgrass at depths from 1 to 25 m (3.3 to 82.0 ft).

It can reach 14 cm (5.5 in) in total length, though most do not exceed 11 cm (4.3 in).