The cuckoo wrasse or Labrus mixtus is a strange creature in the animal kingdom. Cuckoo wrasses are long and slender and coloration depends on maturity and gender. Mature males are bright blue in color, while females and young males vary form yellow-brown to red in color. During the mating season the mature males’ heads usually turn into a white color. They are found in shallow waters and often eat crustaceans.

Now here’s the weird part. All cuckoo wrasse are born females and live as females until they are about two years old. At this time they usually grow to around 16cm. As they grow older they change sex whenever a male dies to replace him. So all male cuckoo wrasses were at some point in their life a female. Mature male cuckoo wrasse are 6 to 9 years old and are about 24 cm long.