The corkwing wrasse (Symphodus melops) is fish confined to the coast of Europe.
Like all wrasse's it has a single long dorsal fin and like most wrasses it is a fairly small hand sized fish.
It is highly variable in color, depending on the environment and age but htey can be identifed by a black spot in the middle of the body just before the tail. as well as a distinctive darkish area just behind the eye. Females and juveniles tend to be brown or greenish-brown, while the male is typically more brightly colored. Both sexes have lines on the head and gill covers which are brown and pale blue in the female, bright green or blue in the male.
Males build a ball-shaped nest of seaweed in rock crevices or among seaweed or seagrasses. The entrance to this nest is guarded tenaciously by the male and corkwing wrasse are considered to be amongst the greatest parents in the fish world.