The Cuckoo Wrasse is Ireland ’s most colourful fish. It also is renowned for its confidence and character; they will commonly approach divers and nip inquisitively at their face masks!

The Cuckoo Wrasse, with its bright multi-coloured body, looks like a delicate fish which should belong in coral reefs, but in fact it is one of the hardiest creatures in the sea. It lives among the weed and rocks of the coast-line; a habitat that is regularly buffeted by large seas and strong winds.

The Cuckoo Wrasse, like all Wrasse, has an incredible life cycle. All Wrasse are born female, and remain female for the first 5 to 7 years of their life. They are then able to change sex and become male! The Cuckoo Wrasse, which begins its life as an orange female fish with black and white spots on its tail, changes colour as it changes sex to become a male with a yellow body and electric blue head and back.

It is thought that when the male Wrasse of a group dies, the dominant female changes sex to take his place, and mates with the remaining females.

Despite their exotic life story, Cuckoo Wrasse are very common in Irish waters, and are found all round the coast.