Their habitat is in the eastern Atlantic from Morocco to the middle of the Norwegian coast, they are also found on the Azores and well into the Baltic. Commonly in water less than five meters deep, yet can be found in water up to 18 meters. They do not change sex. May live to the age of nine and grow to be 24 cm in length. Territorial males are iridescent blue and green in color, they defend nests in which several females may spawn in a row.
Mature females are brown and grey with a dark blur urogenital papilla.
Sneaker males appear to have complete female sexual characteristics and make up 3-20 percent of the population. Clarifying the origin and function of different reproductive strategies. Materials and Methods obtaining the specimen Corkwing wrasses were obtained in random samples using unbaited fyke nets. Samples were taken around Lysekil on the west coast of Sweden during the second half of May and throughout June in years 1998 and again in 1999. In 1999 there were 79 territorial and 59 sneaker males analyzed.