Wrasses in Galápagos: Facts and Where to See Them

Most wrasses are protogynous hermaphrodites: they can start life as females and later become males. Young fish, called the initial phase, are a mix of males and females, but the largest adults become territory-holding terminal-phase males, often with a harem of females. The change is usually from female to male, and the fish that changes is generally the largest female. In experiments, a male cleaner wrasse kept with a bigger male has even turned back into a female.

• Thick lips. Many wrasses have thick, folded lips, which gave them the German name Lippfische, "lip fishes".
• Protruding mouths. Their mouths can push forward, and their teeth often jut outwards.

Cleaner wrasses are the best-known cleaner fish. Larger, often predatory fish gather at their cleaning stations and wait while the wrasses remove parasites, dead tissue and scales, even swimming into their open mouths and gills. Some cheat and nibble healthy tissue and mucus. In a 2019 study, cleaner wrasses became the first fish to pass the mirror test, though scientists still argue about what that means. Many smaller wrasses also follow larger fish to pick up the small animals they stir up.

Guide sighting records list one site: Devil's Crown, a snorkelling site off Floreana, rated Rare. Wrasses live close to the reef, so watch the rocks and the fish swimming around them.

The guide records list wrasses at Devil's Crown in every month. In the next twelve months, 42 departures stop at the site.

Wrasses are a whole family of over 600 species, so their status differs from species to species. In the Galápagos Marine Reserve, park rules ask visitors to keep at least 2 metres (6 feet) from wildlife and never to feed it.

1. Expecting one look. Young fish, females and terminal males can look very different.
2. Touching the reef. Wrasses live close to the rocks; keep your hands off.
3. Feeding fish. It is not allowed in the marine reserve.