Rainbow Wrasse
Coris julis
- Class
- Ray-finned fish
- Rarity
- Common
- Observations
- 5,243
- Most observed in
- 🇪🇸 Spain
- Conservation
- Least Concern
Description
Coris julis also known by its common name, the Mediterranean rainbow wrasse, is a Mediterranean and Eastern Atlantic fish. Phylogenetically they belong to the Labridae family, also known as the wrasses. Within their genus, Coris, there are a total of 28 species. As discussed more in the Life History section below, they can present with more than one coloration. This is because they are diandric protogynous hermaphrodites. These fish are born as what scientists term primary males and females and can transition from a female to a secondary male. Primary individuals are described to be less than 18cm in length and all those larger are secondary males.
Summary adapted from the Wikipedia article “Mediterranean rainbow wrasse”.