Wrasse (pronounced “rass”) are among the most colorful and interesting of all fish. They range in size from a few inches to some that weigh as much as two hundred pounds, but the small ones are the most attractive. All have been given beautiful coloring by the Creator and are found in ocean waters off the coasts of Europe, in the Mediterranean Sea and in the Great Barrier Reef of Australia. Many divers find the Red Sea another favorite place for them.
Those in the northern waters include the red wrasse, the green, the black, the rainbow, the ballen and several more. An outstanding one in the Great Barrier Reef is called moon. It is different than most others, having a rather small mouth and pointed head. It has a beautiful, narrow blue and pink ridge along the length of its back, which matches big fins that are bright blue with soft pink in the center. Its pointed, narrow head is also blue.
A big, two hundred pounder in the Red Sea is called the humphead, because at first glance it looks like a big turtle is getting a ride on its blue and green back. Huge lips covering its large mouth are a smooth deep blue, but the rest of its body is pale blue, except for big green fins matching the coloring of the hump on its back.
One of the interesting activities of the smaller wrasse is cleaning the teeth of big fish. When a huge fish is uncomfortable with bits of food caught in its teeth, it holds its huge mouth open when it sees a wrasse approaching. The wrasse swims right inside, checking out each tooth for bits of food, which are often parts of other fish that were eaten.
If the big fish should shut its mouth at such a time, it would be the end of the little visitor, but they never seem to do that. When the little wrasse finishes its job, it swims away, having had a free meal. The huge fish, with its teeth now clean, goes its way also, perhaps never again to see its tooth-cleaner. Isn’t it wonderful how the Creator has provided such an unusual arrangement for them?
There are many more varieties. Each one is a little different from the others, but all are beautifully colored by the One named in our opening Bible verse.
ML-11/05/2017