in ichthyology, a genus of fishes belonging to the order of thoracici, the characters of which are these: The teeth are sharp, and the lips are simple and very thick; there are six bony rays in the membrane of the gills, and the opercula are scaly. The rays of the back fin are furnished with a thread-like ramentum behind; the breast fins are sharp-pointed; and the lateral line is straight. There are forty-one species of labrus, distinguished by the shape of the tail, fins, colour, &c.