scubaseason

Ballan Wrasse

Labrus bergylta

Sighting evidence at Cabo Vilán Reef, Galicia

The largest wrasse in the North Atlantic, ballan wrasse at Cabo Vilán reach impressive sizes thanks to the site's protection from fishing. These fish are sex-changers — all individuals are born female and the largest, most dominant individuals transition to male — giving a single dive site a fascinating cross-section of the species' life history.

Evidence at this site

No confirmed records on file at this site

Ballan Wrasse is listed as a curated species here based on historical reports.

How is this calculated?

Sighting evidence is compiled from iNaturalist observation records within a set proximity radius, filtered for quality-grade observations. “Last confirmed” is the date of the most recent research-grade record. Record count covers a rolling 24-month window. Confidence reflects record count, recency, and consistency of seasonal signal.

Also seen at other sites