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Trees- ShrubsFive-Spotted Wrasse (Symphodus roissali)
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S. roissali is a small fish (<15cm) endemic to the Mediterranean (1). They have pointed lips with a black spot in the middle of their caudal peduncle. This species has several distinctive colour morphs (1) and can appear bright green, mottled grey or light brown (2). Dominant terminal phase males are more brightly coloured than the dull initial phase males.
There are 10 species in the Symphodus genus. Other common Symphodus species in the Aegean Sea include S. ocellatus and S. cinereus.
S. roissali are most commonly found in the littoral zone (<6m). They prefer to inhabit areas near rocks with high algal cover or in seagrass beds (3). They have a depth range of 1-30 m (6).
S. roissali terminal phase males produce elaborate nests and exhibit parental care of the eggs, by ventilating the eggs and defending their territory (5). The males create several nests, which they defend during the breeding season from April to June (1). Due to the energy utilised in caring for the eggs, they tend to have lower spawning rates than other species of Symphodus (5). The non-dominant males exhibit sneaking behaviour in attempt to fertilise eggs. This species always spawns over rocky substrate (2).
S. roissali are found in the Mediterranean and Black Sea, as well as the Eastern Atlantic, from the Gulf of Gascogne to Gibraltar (7).
S. roissali is a non-migratory species.
S. roissali are mainly solitary individuals (3). They are homochromic as they can adapt to different habitats by altering their colouration (4); in seagrass it is possible to find green morphs of S. roissali (2).
S. roissali feed on bryozoans, shrimps, hydroids, small molluscs and sea urchins (3).
Not evaluated under the IUCN Redlist (8).
Description written by Nikkita Lawton (2009)
(1) Raventos, N. 2004. Effects of wave action on nesting activity in the littoral five-spotted wrasse, Symphodus roissali, (Labridae), in the Mediterranean Sea. Scienta Marina; 68: 257-264
(2) Louisy P. 2002. Symphodus roissali. Guide d’indentification des Poissons Marins Europe et Mediterranee. Les Editions Eugen Ulmer. pp.139
(3) Quignard, J.-P. and A. Pras. 1986. Labridae. In P.J.P. Whitehead, M.-L. Bauchot, J.-C. Hureau, J. Nielsen and E. Tortonese (eds.) Fishes of the north-eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean. Vol. 2. pp. 919-942.
(4) Argioni, S., Francour, P., Harmelin-Vivien, M. and Zaninetti, L. 2005. Adaptive colouration of Mediterranean labrid fishes to the new habitat provided by the introduce alga Caulerpa taxifola. Journal of Fish Biology; 60: 1486-1497
(5) Warner, R. R. and Lejeune, R. 1985. Sex change limited by paternal care: a test using four Mediterranean labrid fishes, genus Symphodus. Marine Biology; 87: 89-99
(6) Gomon, M.F. and P. Forsyth. 1990. Labridae. p. 868-882. In J.C. Quero, J.C. Hureau, C. Karrer, A. Post and L. Saldanha (eds.) Check-list of the fishes of the eastern tropical Atlantic (CLOFETA). JNICT, Lisbon, SEI, Paris; and UNESCO, Paris. Vol. 2.
(7) Fishbase. Symphodus roissali. [Accessed 22 June 2009] www.fishbase.org
(8) IUCN. 2009. IUCN Red List. [Accessed 04 June 2009] http://www.iucnredlist.org
