Depth
Labrus · Bony Fish

Green Wrasse

Labrus viridis

0-40m
Depth Range
47 cm
Max Size
Mediterranean
Distribution
0-40m
Depth Range
47 cm
Max Size
Rocky Reef
Habitat
Carnivore
Diet
Solitary
Social
LC
IUCN Status
Low
Sighting Likelihood
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Actinopterygii
Genus Labrus
Species viridis

Bony Fish

Identification & Biology

  • IdentificationLarge wrasse with a deep, robust body and thick lips. Adults are uniformly dark green to brownish-green. Juveniles are bright green with a pale lateral stripe. The white spot on the flank distinguishes adults from brown wrasse.
  • SizeUp to 47 cm total length, commonly 20 to 35 cm.
  • Social HabitSolitary and territorial. Adults occupy fixed home ranges on deeper reef areas.
  • HabitatRocky reefs, boulder fields, and seagrass bed edges. Prefers deeper, calmer water than the brown wrasse.
  • Depth5 to 50 m, most common between 10 and 30 m.
  • Feeds OnSea urchins, crustaceans, molluscs, and worms. An important predator of hard-shelled invertebrates.
  • DistributionMediterranean Sea and adjacent Atlantic coast from Portugal to Morocco.
  • DescriptionOne of the largest Mediterranean wrasses, the green wrasse is a slow-moving, powerful predator of sea urchins and shellfish. Adults are impressive fish with a uniform dark green coloration that makes them easy to distinguish from other large wrasses. Now uncommon in many areas due to spearfishing pressure.

Range

Habitat & Distribution

Found across the Mediterranean, inhabiting rocky reef environments. Active from the surface down to 40m depth.

Where Malta divers have spotted this species

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Sightings are logged by divers using our What Did You See? dive-log tool. View the full live sightings map.

Detail

Preferred Environment

Rocky Reef habitats, typically at depths of 0-40m. Most commonly encountered by divers at the shallower end of its range.

Encounter Tips

Swim along the edges and clearings within Posidonia meadows. Males are conspicuous due to their bright green colour and large size. Females are harder to spot among the brown-green seagrass blades.

Green Wrasse species card

Biology

Behaviour & Diet

Feeding Strategy

Feeds on sea urchins, crustaceans, molluscs and worms. Uses its strong pharyngeal teeth to crush hard-shelled invertebrates.

Shell crusher

Reproduction

A protogynous hermaphrodite. Males build algae nests on rocky substrates and defend them while courting passing females.

Nest builder

Behaviour & Defence

Buries itself in sand at night and may secrete a protective mucus cocoon while sleeping. During the day, relies on swift swimming to escape threats.

Sand burial

Dive with diveshack

Where to Encounter in Malta

The following dive sites offer strong habitat match for Labrus viridis. All are accessible on a guided dive with diveshack.

5-30m
North Malta

Cirkewwa

Rocky reef with caves, arches and ledges hosting a rich diversity of reef species.

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5-50m
Gozo

Blue Hole

One of the Med's most famous reef dive sites. Rocky walls and archways covered in life.

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18-36m
South Malta

Um El Faroud

The wreck lies on a sandy bottom surrounded by rocky reef -- a diverse habitat attracting reef species.

View dive site ›
IUCN Red List Least Concern

Conservation Status

This species is assessed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Mediterranean populations face ongoing pressure from fishing activity, habitat degradation, and climate-driven changes to prey availability.

Source: iNaturalist Guide #888
by Lesley Clements (CC BY-SA)
diveshack Mediterranean Marine Life guide