Mediterranean rainbow wrasse
Coris julis
- Scientific name
- Coris julis
- Group
- Reef fish
- Rarity
- Common
- Where to see it
- Mediterranean
- Conservation status (IUCN)
- Least concern
Did you know?
The Mediterranean rainbow wrasse changes appearance dramatically over its life: it starts as a striped brownish-orange female, and some individuals later transform into vivid blue-green males with an orange zigzag pattern. This sex change, called protogynous hermaphroditism, comes with a complete shift in territorial behavior.
What defines this group — Reef fish
The bony fish that live against coral and rock: the living backdrop of almost every dive.
- A bony skeleton, scales, and a rigid gill cover closing over the gills.
- A swim bladder acts as a float: they hold their depth without swimming.
- Many change colour, pattern — sometimes even sex — over the course of their life.
Other species in this group
- Ocellaris clownfish
- Blue tang
- Red lionfish
- Spot-fin porcupinefish
- Mediterranean moray
- Clark's anemonefish