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Rock cook (Centrolabrus exoletus) — Labridae

Rock cook

Centrolabrus exoletus
Family: Labridae

The Rock cook (Centrolabrus exoletus) is a saltwater fish of the family Labridae that grows up to 18 cm.

Length
18 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
3.0–10.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless

Description

The rock cook is a small wrasse (Labridae) from the northeast Atlantic, from Norway to the Mediterranean. The species grows to about 18 cm and has an elongate, brown-green body with a dark band at the tail base and bluish lines on the head. As a reef-dweller it lives over rocky bottoms and in kelp and seagrass and picks small invertebrates; juveniles sometimes clean parasites from other fish. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Rock cook?

The Rock cook has a torpedo-shaped body and is mainly green.

Where does the Rock cook live?

The Rock cook lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground.

How big does the Rock cook get?

The Rock cook grows to a maximum of about 18 cm. On average the species is around 12 cm.

Is the Rock cook dangerous to humans?

No, the Rock cook is harmless to humans.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Rotskoek-lipvis sourced
English name
Rock cook sourced
Scientific name
Centrolabrus exoletus
Family
Labridae
Other names
Rock cook; Small-mouthed wrasse verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
18.0 verified
Average length (cm)
12.0 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Green sourced
Tail shape
Straight inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
3.0 verified
Max depth (m)
10.0 verified
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Diurnal inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
Yes inferred
levensduur_max_jaar
6.0 verified

For anglers

Fishing method
Vissen met natuurlijk aas (vis, garnaal, worm) of kunstaas dicht bij rif- en rotsstructuren. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Centrolabrus

More from the family Labridae

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