The sex differentiation of fishes occurs under the control of genetic and various environmental factors. DM-domain containing genes are novel zinc finger transcription factors and play key roles in sex determination. In order to isolate the wrasse DMRT (wDMRT) cDNA from the protogynous wrasse (Halichoeres tenuispinnis), the wrasse testis cDNA library was screened using the P-labeled PCR products, which were amplified with the degenerate primers from conserved DM-domain regions of several DMRT genes. Among a few positives obtained through screening, the full length wDMRT cDNA of 2.9kb size encoding a predicted 300 amino acid residues was isolated. The sequence analysis exhibited 60%, 43% sequence identity with rainbow trout and tilapia DMRT1, respectively. RT-PCR assay showed that wDMRT was expressed specifically in male testis. Also, wDMRT gene was strongly expressed in May during reproductive season, when the reproductivity of wrasse is most active. This results suggested that wDMRT gene function in testis differentiation The conserved DM-domain regions were amplified using PCR from DMRT genes of several species among Labridae, and their sequences were determined. The sequence of DM-domain region of Halichoeres. tenuispinis was identical to those of Pseudolabrus japonicus, Pteragogus flagellifera, and showed 94% identity with that of Halichoeres poecioptrerus.