Wrasses and Parrotfish

Wrasses and parrotfish (family Labridae) are among the most diverse lineages of reef fishes on earth. A new study in Science Advances, led by Chase Brownstein, sheds light on the explosion of evolutionary innovation and diversification that happened 20 million years ago and led to the reef fish diversity we see today. 

The authors asked me to create paintings to represent different groups of wrasses and parrotfish for their figures. Painting reef fish is always so rewarding because I get to use some of the more vibrant colors on my palette! Hello, turquoise and magenta.

Read the full article here: ​https://www.science.org/doi/epdf/10.1126/sciadv.adu6149