Mediterranean rainbow wrasse
| Mediterranean rainbow wrasse | |
|---|---|
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| Male in the coast of Cape Palos (Spain) | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Labriformes |
| Family: | Labridae |
| Genus: | Coris |
| Species: | C. julis
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| Binomial name | |
| Coris julis | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
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The Mediterranean rainbow wrasse (Coris julis) is a small, colourful fish in the family Labridae. It can be found in the Mediterranean Sea and in the northeast Atlantic Ocean from Sweden to Senegal (though it is a rare wanderer to the southern British Isles).[3][2] Records of this species south from Senegal and the Cape Verde Islands are actually the closely related Coris atlantica.[2]
It feeds on amphipods, isopods, sea urchins, polychaete, shrimps, and small gastropods.[2]
Description
[edit]
Like many wrasses, C. julis is a sequential hermaphrodite: all start in the smaller initial phase. These initial-phase individuals (both females and males) can turn into the larger secondary-phase males.[4] At a length of about 18 cm (7.1 in), all individuals are secondary-phase males.[2] The maximum length for the species is 25 cm (9.8 in). There is a marked difference in the appearance of the two phases. In the Mediterranean Sea, the secondary-phase male is green, blue, or brown, with white belly, a dark blue spot over the ventral fin, and a bright orange band on the side, while the smaller primary-phase females and males are brown with yellowish sides and white bellies.[5] Populations in the Atlantic differ in colour and genetics from the Mediterranean population, but are maintained in a single species at present.[1][4] If found to be separate, the scientific name Coris festiva (at present considered a synonym of C. julis) is available for the Atlantic population.
Habitat
[edit]It is typically found near the shore in places with seagrass or rocks. It is usually found at depths of 0–60 m (0–197 ft), but occurs as deep as 120 m (390 ft).[2]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Pollard, D.; Afonso, P. (2010). "Coris julis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2010: e.T187752A8621739. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-4.RLTS.T187752A8621739.en. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Coris julis". FishBase. August 2019 version.
- ^ Dr Amanda Young. "Wrasse (British Seas)". British Marine Life Study Society. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
- ^ a b Aurelle, D., Guillemaud, T., Afonso, P., Morato, T., Wirtz, P., Santos, R.S.S., and Cancela, M.L. (2003). Genetic study of Coris julis (Osteichthyes, Perciformes, Labridae) evolutionary history and dispersal abilities. Comptes Rendus Biologies 326(8): 771-785.
- ^ Egidio Patrick Louisy Trainito, ed. (2006). Guida all'identificazione dei pesci marini d'Europa e del Mediterraneo. Milan: Il Castello. ISBN 88-8039-472-X.
External links
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- Photos of Mediterranean rainbow wrasse on Sealife Collection