Centrolabrus exoletus (Linnaeus, 1758)
Rock cook
Centrolabrus exoletus
photo by Salesjö, A.

Family:  Labridae (Wrasses)
Max. size:  18 cm TL (male/unsexed); max. reported age: 6 years
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range 3 - 10 m
Distribution:  Eastern Atlantic: Norway to Portugal; also eastern Greenland.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 18-20; Dorsal soft rays (total): 5-7; Anal spines: 4-6; Anal soft rays: 6-8. Snout with 5-10 pores. Upper lip with 5-7 folds. Rows of scales on cheek 3-5, on inter-operculum 2 (7-11) scales, on temporo-occipital surface 5-8. Vertebrae 32-34. Preoperculum edge serrated. One row of scales on base of soft part of dorsal and anal fins (Ref. 232). No black spots on the body or fins (Ref. 35388).
Biology:  Adults are found in eel-grass beds near rocks. Feed on small invertebrates (Ref. 4742). Eggs are laid in the summer in a seaweed nest (Ref. 35388). Males grow faster than females (Ref. 4792). Oviparous, distinct pairing during breeding (Ref. 205). Used in salmon culture as cleaner fish (Helmut Tethmeyer, pers. comm.).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 25 September 2013 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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