Goldsinny wrasse

Goldsinny wrasse
Ctenolabrus rupestris
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Suborder: Labroidei
Family: Labridae
Genus: Ctenolabrus
Species: C. rupestris
Binomial name
Ctenolabrus rupestris
(Linnaeus, 1758)

The Goldsinny wrasse (Ctenolabrus rupestris), also known as goldsinney or goldfinny, is a small wrasse living in crevices and sheltered spots in rocky areas of Atlantic waters, typically between the surface and 50m depth.

Description

The goldsinny has a reddish brown upper body with a paler belly. There is a black spot on top at the start of the tail fin. There is an additional black spot at the start of the dorsal fin which is often indistinct.

Commercial Use

The goldsinny is fond of sea lice and has been used to clean salmon in commercial farms together with the ballan wrasse. Both these wrasse are not easy to retain in the salmon farms as they escape through the nets being significantly smaller than the salmon.

References