WRASSES. 
15 
( Centrolabrus ) Gbgs, Boh. Fn., p. 479; Lilljeborg, 8v., 
Norg. Fiskar, I, pag. 452. 
Obs. Nilsson has given this species the name Smamunt Snultra 
(a translation of the Small-mouthed Wrasse ( Crenilabrus microstoma) 
of Thompson and Yarrell), but we can find no sufficient reason for 
the rejection of the name which has formerly been given it in «Scan- 
dinavian Fishes. » 
The greatest length that the Small- mouthed Wrasse 
seems to attain is about 150 mm., and it is generally 
from 100 to 125 mm. in length. We also infer that 
it does not attain a much larger size from the fact that 
in specimens only 100 mm. in length the generative 
organs are fully developed. In common with the Scale- 
rayed Wrasse it is distinguished from the other Scan- 
dinavian wrasses by the possession of 5 (sometimes 4) 
spinous rays in the anal fin, while the others as a rule 
have only 3. In its general shape too it has several 
peculiar and distinctive features, notably the strong 
compression of the body, the sharpness of the dorsal edge, 
the handsome elliptical shape of the body with the pro- 
duction of the snout, the small size of the mouth, the 
almost complete uniformity in depth of the dorsal and 
anal tins, both of which terminate in a somewhat sharp 
corner, and lastly the very slight increase in breadth 
towards the extremity of the caudal tin. The length of 
the head is a little under x / 4 of the total length and 
much less than the greatest depth of the body. The 
jaw-teeth form a simple row and are comparatively 
small. The margin of the preoperculum is very clearly 
denticulated. In the lateral line there are from 35 to 
37 scales with an entire posterior margin and pierced 
by a raised duct, the end of which is bent obliquely 
upwards. On the tail the ducts are almost confluent. 
The curve of the lateral line at the extremity of the 
dorsal fin is sharper than in the other Scandinavian 
wrasses. Above the lateral line there are 3 large rows 
of scales and one smaller row; below the line there are 
10 rows. The scales are so thin that with a magnifying 
glass one can see the striate root of one scale through 
the scale overlapping it. The scales which cover the 
tail advance a little over the base of the caudal fin, but 
there are no rows of scales on the membrane between 
the rays of the fin. The dorsal fin consists of 18 or 19 
hard, pungent rays with deeply indented membrane and 
membranous flaps at the tip, and not more than 6 or 
7 soft rays divided at the point and with the membrane 
at the margin entire. It is orange in colour with a 
tinge of gray in the posterior part, and between the 
rays there are two rows of blue spots, the one at the 
base and the other halfway up. The membranous flaps 
and the extreme margin of the soft-rayed part are blue. 
The anal fin which is of almost the same shape, mark- 
ing, and colour as the dorsal, consists either of 5 hard, 
pungent rays and 7 soft rays divided at the point and 
the last of them cloven to the base, or of only 4 spi- 
nous rays and 8 soft; in the latter case the first soft 
ray is not divided at the tip. The pectoral fins yellow, 
transparent and made up of 2 simple and 12 branched 
rays. The ventrals dirty- white and made up, as usual, 
of one spinous and 5 soft rays. The caudal fin gray 
with 13 yellowish brown rays (the uppermost and the 
lowest undivided) and two rows of blue spots on the 
fin-membrane; the extreme margin edged with blue. 
The principal colour of the body is olive with a 
tinge of yellow at the sides and towards the belly a 
gloss of bright gamboge, which is peculiar to this spe- 
cies. The belly is dirty-white and is without spots. 
The edges of the scales, with the exception of those on 
the belly and head, are blue, darker at the top than at 
the bottom, and thus form crescent-shaped spots which 
greatly enhance the beauty of this little fish. The head 
is yellowish brown with the forehead of a darker shade 
and the gill-cover yellowish; along it there generally 
run 6 violet bands, like reins, in the direction shown 
in the figure. The iris is reddish brown with a narrow 
ring of lighter hue next the pupil, which is of a 
beautiful shifting green. 
In its internal organs this species corresponds to 
the preceding one. 
The Small-mouthed Wrasse seems to be exclusively 
an inhabitant of the northern seas. The statement that 
it is found in Greenland, however, is only based on a 
vague conjecture of Fabricius and, as far as we know, 
has not been confirmed in later times. In Scandinavia, 
at least in Sweden, it occurs more rarely than any other 
species of the wrasses. South of Bohuskin it has never 
yet been met with on the coasts of Scandinavia. Its 
mode of life resembles that of its kindred species, but 
it is more confined to the seaward side of the islets 
and has never been found far up the fjords; that is the 
case at least in the island-belt of Bohuslan. In the 
places they frequent they are found in small companies. 
To the fisherman this little species is of no espe- 
cial value. 
(Fries, Smitt.) 
