Remains of Labridæ, recognised by their united pharyngeals, which bear molar-like teeth, are not scarce in tertiary formations of France, Germany, Italy, and England. Such remains from Monte Bolca and the Swiss Molasse have been referred to the genus Labrus. Others, Nummopalatus and Phyllodus, are allied, but cannot be assigned, to one of the recent genera; the latter genus is first represented in cretaceous formations of Germany. Another genus, Taurinichthys, from the Miocene of France, represents the Odacina of the living fauna. Egertonia, from the Isle of Sheppey, differs so much from all recent Labroid genera that its pertinence to this family appears doubtful.
[See J. Cocchi, Monografia dei Pharyngodopilidæ, 1866; and E. Sauvage, Sur le genre Nummopalatus, in Bull. Soc. Geol. France, 1875.]
Labrus.—Body compressed, oblong, covered with scales of moderate size, in more than forty transverse series; snout more or less pointed; imbricate scales on the cheeks and opercles; none or only a few on the interoperculum. Teeth in the jaws conical, in a single series. Dorsal spines numerous, thirteen or twenty-one, none of which are prolonged; anal spines three. Lateral line not interrupted.
Young “Wrasses” differ from mature specimens in having the præoperculum serrated. The headquarters of this genus are the Mediterranean, whence it ranges, gradually diminishing towards the north, along all the shores of Europe. Nine species are known; British are the “Ballan Wrasse” (L. maculatus), and the “Striped or Red Wrasse” or “Cook” (L. mixtus). The two sexes of the latter species are very differently coloured; the male being generally ornamented with blue streaks, or a blackish band along the body, whilst the female has two or three large black blotches across the back of the tail.
Crenilabrus are Labrus with serrated præoperculum; the number of their dorsal spines varies from thirteen to eighteen, and the scales are arranged in less than forty transverse series.
The range of this genus is co-extensive with Labrus. C. melops, the “Gold-sinny,” or “Cork-wing,” is common on the British coasts.
Tautoga.—Body compressed, oblong, covered with small scales; scales on the cheek rudimentary, opercles naked. Teeth in the jaws conical, in double series; no posterior canine tooth. Dorsal spines seventeen, anal spines three. Lateral line not interrupted.
The “Tautog,” or “Black-fish,” is common on the Atlantic coasts of temperate North America, and much esteemed as food.
Ctenolabrus.—Body oblong, covered with scales of moderate size; imbricate scales on the cheeks and opercles. Teeth in the jaws in a band, with an outer series of stronger conical teeth; no posterior canine tooth. Dorsal spines from sixteen to eighteen; anal spines three. Lateral line not interrupted.
Four species, from the Mediterranean and the temperate parts of the North Atlantic, Ct. rupestris being common on the British, and Ct. burgall on the North American coasts.