Author: Linnaeus, 1758
Labrus viridis Linnaeus, 1758
Status in World Register of Marine Species:
Accepted name: Labrus viridis Linnaeus, 1758 (updated 2009-06-25)
Diagnosis: rather elongate body. Head longer than high and longer than body depth. Snout pointed. Mouth rather large. Sharp canine-like teeth: 7-13/9-13. Lips with 6-8 folds. Dorsal fin uniform in height, its soft part longer than high. Dorsal finrays XVII-XIX + 10-14; anal finrays III + 9-13. Scales along lateral line 41-49, on temporo-occipital surface 15-21, on inter-operculum 0-3; rows of scales above lateral line 5.5-6.5, on cheek 6-9, behind eye 5-7. Gillrakers 20-22. Vertebrae 36-41. Colour: no sexual dimorphism. Body habitually green, belly paler, yellowish-greyish or silvered, often a large longitudinal white stripe from snout to tail. Sides and belly in older specimens often yellow-green or orange with numerous little white spots giving a reticulate aspect. Size: to 47 cm SL, usually 35-40.
Habitat: littoral (2-50 m); around rocks and seaweed. Behaviour: solitary or paired. Females have been seen spawning in sea meadows, without nest (adhesive eggs). Food: crustaceans and fishes. Reproduction: in western Mediterranean February June. Mature when more than 2 years old (16 cm). Age and growth: 15-18 years.
Distribution: in Mediterranean and Black Sea. In eastern Atlantic from Portugal to Morocco.
Eggs, larvae and young stages. Garnaud, 1962: 42, fig. 13.
Otoliths (sagitta). Chaine, 1942: 17, 22;1957: 4.