Symphodus Tinca

– Peacock Wrasse –

The East Atlantic peacock wrasse (Symphodus tinca) is a species of wrasse native to the eastern Atlantic Ocean from Spain to Morocco and in the coastal waters of the Mediterranean Sea and the Black Sea. This species lives around rocks surrounded by eelgrass and can also be found in brackish waters in lagoons. It occurs at depths from 1 to 50 m (3.3 to 164.0 ft). This species can reach 44 cm (17 in) in standard length, though most grow no larger than 25 cm (9.8 in). This species is sought as a game fish and is also important to local peoples as a food fish. It can also be found in the aquarium trade.^[2]

Description

Body is oval and laterally flattened. Mouth is rather small, more or less protrusive, with rather strong canine-like teeth. There are a few cephalic pores on the snout; lips are with 6-9 folds.

Head is generally longer than body depth. Dorsal fin is very long and reaches almost to the tail. Both sexes have a small dark spot at base of caudal fin and a dark blotch just above pectoral fin. Also, many darker spots on the body form 3 or 4 longitudinal stripes.

Generally, color reflects sexual dimorphism. Females and juveniles are grey-greenish or brownish, fading to a silvery color on the belly. Between immature males and mature females there are almost no differences in color. Males are more brightly colored, especially in the breeding season. Pale green, green-bluish or green-yellowish, longitudinal rows of red spots, with upper part of head dark blue.

East Atlantic Peacock Wrasse can reach 44 cm (17 in) in standard length, though most grow no larger than 25 cm (9.8 in).

Due to relatively small dimensions, this species is rarely sought as a game fish, but it is sometimes sold locally for food when caught in local artisanal fisheries. It can also be found in the aquarium trade.

Peacock wrasse feeds on sea urchins, ophiuroids, bivalves, shrimps and crabs.

Spawning takes place in spring, when a seaweed nest is built and guarded by the male, with one or more females laying their adhesive eggs in it.

One of the largest wrasses of our coasts and the most common encountered in the Mediterranean. Males can reach 40 cm while females do not exceed 25 cm.
It is an elongated fish with a massive body . The lips are well developed and full and the mouth is protractile *. The livery is different according to the sex (sexual dimorphism). The males are green-yellow with 3 bands, more or less marked, punctuated with red and blue. The pectoral fins are yellowish while the other fins have blue and red spots. A dark spot is present at the base of the pectoral fins . During the nuptial period, the color of the males is even more accentuated.
Females aregray-brown with 3 dark brown stripes .
A black spot is present in the middle of the caudal peduncle, but it can however be very attenuated or absent in males. Finally, a dark V-shaped band connects the eyes , passing over the forehead.

Biotope

It is native to the eastern Atlantic Ocean from Spain to Morocco and can be found in the coastal waters of the Mediterranean Sea and the Black Sea.

This fish frequents rocky bottoms rich in algae and Posidonia meadows down to a depth of 20-25 m (but it can occasionally be found up to 50 m).

This gregarious littoral fish is found on rocky reefs covered by algae, on sea-grass meadows, around rocks surrounded by eelgrass and can also be found in brackish waters in lagoons.

Similar Species

Symphodus cinereus for young individuals but with a paler livery.

Thalassamo pavo , the girelle-peacock, whose name can be a source of confusion. It is also possible to confuse males, greenish and streaked orange-red in the transverse direction. The wrasse-peacock is however much more slender, less stocky than the crenilabre-peacock. The dark spot above its pectoral fin helps to dispel any confusion.

Alimentation

Symphodus tinca feeds on all kinds of small invertebrates (worms, crustaceans, sea urchins, bivalves, etc.).

Reproduction

This species is gonochoric * (the sexes are separate), but some individuals can change sex. The sexual maturity of females is reached around 2 years old and the transformation into male is usually done the following year. Reproduction takes place between March and August. The livery of the males becomes intense with bright colors, especially in the reds and blues.
The male builds a rudimentary nest with algae. Sometimes it is expelled from it by another male who fertilizes the oocytes * recently laid by a female. The male “squatter” then abandons the nest to go and hack another, leaving the male owner to take care of it.
The editor has had the opportunity to observe this behavior on several occasions in the waters of Marseille. The male chooses a small cave (most often a large depression in the rocky drop off) at a depth of 10 to 15 m, with which he will line a vertical wall of algae that he takes from the surroundings. The covered area is approximately 1m in length by 50cm to 1m in width. The male then tries to chase the other crenilabrous peacock which approach but remains indifferent to the other species.

Associated Life

Symphodus tinca is often encountered in a near vertical position, head up or down and motionless. This position is the signal to be dewormed by the small black-tailed wrasse, or cleaner wrasse ( Symphodus melanocercus ). Symphodus tinca is indeed frequently parasitized by monogenic * platyhelminths or isopod crustaceans, such as anilocres or Nerocila bivittata .

Various Life

This species can reach the age of 15 years.
It presents a certain homochromy * with its environment, that is to say it can change color to camouflage itself. It can also change color under the effect of stress: in case of fear, danger, threat or for males dominated by others, the coloring is much paler.
Young individuals often move in small schools of a few individuals accompanied by an adult female.
Dorsal fin with 14 to 16 spines and 9 to 12 soft rays, anal with 3 spines and 8 to 11 soft rays.

Further Information

It is easy to approach because it is not shy and often lies down on the bottom, among the algae or against the rock to hide.
Although edible, the flesh of Symphodus tinca has no particular taste and for this reason it is not the subject of a specific peach.

Fishing

This species is of little commercial value – trammel net is the main commercial fishing gear for catching East Atlantic peacock wrasse.

In recreational fishing, it is often caught on light rod and reel, hand line or small longline. It is not very picky about bait and will gladly grab a small chunks of fish, prawns, paste and even bread.

Larger specimens can be caught with the speargun.

Cuisine

Symphodus tinca is often underestimated regarding its taste and aroma – meat is soft, tender and very tasty. Unfortunately, larger specimens are rare. Smaller fish can be pan fried or made as part of mixed fish soup. Larger specimens are barbecued or prepared as part of mixed fish stew.