Labrus bergylta

Researched By	Morvan Barnes	Data Supplied By	MarLIN
Refereed by	This information is not refereed
Taxonomy
Scientific name	Labrus bergylta	Common name	Ballan wrasse
MCS Code	ZG399	Recent Synonyms
Phylum	Chordata	Subphylum	Vertebrata
Superclass	Gnathostomata	Class	Osteichthyes
Subclass	Teleostei	Order	Perciformes
Suborder		Family	Labridae
Genus	Labrus	Species	bergylta
Subspecies
Additional Information
Taxonomy References	FishBase, 2000, Muus & Dahlstrom, 1974, Howson & Picton, 1997, Hayward & Ryland, 1995b, Whitehead et al., 1986
General Biology
Growth form	Pisciform	Feeding method	Predator, Scavenger
Mobility/Movement	Swimmer	Environmental position	Demersal
Typical food types	Predominantly benthic crustaceans and molluscs.	Habit	Free living
Bioturbator	Not relevant	Flexibility	Low (10-45 degrees)
Fragility	Intermediate	Size	Medium-large(21-50cm)
Height	Not researched	Growth Rate	4-7 cm / year (K=0.11)
Adult dispersal potential	>10km	Dependency	Independent
Sociability	Solitary
Toxic/Poisonous?	No
Additional Information
Biology References	Hayward & Ryland, 1995b, Whitehead et al., 1986, Wheeler, 1969, Darwall et al., 2006, Dipper et al., 1977, Artuz, 2005
Distribution and Habitat
Distribution in Britain & Ireland	Found off all British and Irish coasts although less common in the southern North Sea
Global distribution	Found in north-west Europe from Poland and Scotland to northern Spain. Possibly recorded from Madeira, the Azores, the Canary Islands as well as the Mediterranean and Adriatic.
Biogeographic range	Temperate.	Depth range	From 10 m to 30 m depth.
Migratory	Non-migratory / Resident
Distribution Additional Information
Substratum preferences	Bedrock, Algae, Cobbles, Pebbles	Physiographic preferences	Open coast, Offshore seabed
Biological zone	Sublittoral Fringe, Upper Infralittoral, Lower Infralittoral, Upper Circalittoral, Lower Circalittoral	Wave exposure
Tidal stream strength/Water flow		Salinity	Full (30-40 psu)
Habitat Additional Information
Distribution References	NBN, 2002, FishBase, 2000, Picton & Costello, 1998, Muus & Dahlstrom, 1974, Hayward & Ryland, 1995b, Whitehead et al., 1986, Wheeler, 1969
Reproduction/Life History
Reproductive type	Gonochoristic	Developmental mechanism	Oviparous
Reproductive Season	June to July	Reproductive Location	Water column
Reproductive frequency	Annual episodic	Regeneration potential	No
Life span	21-100 years	Age at reproductive maturity	6-10 years
Generation time	Not researched	Fecundity	probably about 1,000
Egg/propagule size	0.7-1.1 mm	Fertilization type	External
Larvae/Juveniles Larval/Juvenile dispersal potential Insufficient information Larval settlement period Not relevant Duration of larval stage Not relevant
Additional Information	All are born female and change sex when 4-14 years of age.
Reproduction References	Munk & Nielsen, 2005, Darwall et al., 2006, Artuz, 2005b, Fives, 1976