Labridae
by J.-P. Quignard and A. Pras
Body usually rather elongate and laterally compressed. Single dorsal and anal fins, with spiny unsegmented rays and soft segmented ones. 3 or more anal finspines. Pelvic finrays I + 5. Mouth rather small, more or less protrusible. Lips generally thick, fleshy. Teeth on jaws usually canine-like, none on palate and tongue (see note below). Lower pharyngeal bones fused, the second, third and fourth upper fused on each side, all dentigerous, with strong granular, grinding teeth. Operculum edge smooth; preoperculum may be serrated. Cycloid scales. Lateral line continuous, sometimes divided in two parts. Brilliant coloured fishes.
Mainly coastal, in shallow waters, even often intertidally and sometimes in brackish water. Coral reefs, rocky areas or seaweed. Solitary or in small groups. Most of them only active during daytime, hiding themselves in rock crevices or sea meadows at night to 'sleep', some of them burying themselves in the sand. Some species act as cleaners at definite stations. Chiefly carnivorous (molluscs, crabs, sea-urchins, crushed with pharyngeal teeth), some species herbivorous. Usually adhesive eggs, courtship and nesting, sometimes pelagic eggs. Sex reversal frequent, from female to male.
Genera 60; in Clofnam area 11.