This beautiful colourful fish would look right at hope in a tropical reef but its found in Scotland’s waters and is amazing to see! Males and females look very different, the female cuckoo wrasse is an orangey-pink colour with distinct black and white blotches on her back. The male has electric blue markings on his head and back with orange fins.

Behaviour

These fish have powerful teeth and jaws to crush their food, which is mainly hard shelled animals like limpets, mussels and crustaceans.

Size

Up to 35 cm total length.

Status

Listed as of Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

Distribution

Found all around Scotland’s coasts.

When to see

All year round.

Facts

Cuckoo wrasse start life as females. They are protogynous hermaphrodites, meaning they can change to males when there is a need. There is normally a single dominant male on the reef and if he dies, the most senior female will change sex and become the top male! Conversely, species like the tropical clown fish are protandrous hermaphrodites, which means they all start life as males.