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Mediterranean rainbow wrasse

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Mediterranean rainbow wrasse
Male in the coast of Cape Palos (Spain)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Labriformes
Family: Labridae
Genus: Coris
Species:
C. julis
Binomial name
Coris julis
Synonyms[2]
List
  • Labrus julis Linnaeus, 1758
  • Julis julis (Linnaeus, 1758)
  • Labrus paroticus Linnaeus, 1758
  • Labrus perdica Forsskål, 1775
  • Labrus infuscus Walbaum, 1792
  • Labrus subfuscus Bloch & Schneider, 1801
  • Labrus keslik Lacépède, 1801
  • Labrus cettii Rafinesque, 1810
  • Labrus giofredi Risso, 1810
  • Julis mediterranea Risso, 1827
  • Julis speciosa Risso, 1827
  • Coris speciosa (Risso, 1827)
  • Julis vulgaris J. Fleming, 1828
  • Julis melanura R. T. Lowe, 1839
  • Coris festiva (Valenciennes, 1839)
  • Julis vulgaris Valenciennes, 1839
  • Coris taeniatus Steindachner, 1863
  • Julis azorensis Fowler, 1919

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

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Female near Livorno (Mediterranean population)

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 in), all individuals are secondary-phase males.[2] The maximum length for the species is 25 cm (10 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.

Showing colour changes as females (left) transition into males (right)

Habitat

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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]

[edit]
  • Female
    Female
  • Male
    Male
  • Females
    Females
  • Females feeding
    Females feeding
  • Female
    Female
  • Female
    Female
  • Male
    Male
  • Male displaying dorsal fin
    Male displaying dorsal fin
  • Male
    Male
  • Male
    Male

References

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  1. ^ a b Pollard, D.; Afonso, P. (2010). "Coris julis (Mediterranean Rainbow Wrasse)". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2010: e.T187752A8621739. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-4.RLTS.T187752A8621739.en. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Coris julis". FishBase. August 2019 version.
  3. ^ Young, Amanda. "Wrasse (British Seas)". British Marine Life Study Society. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
  4. ^ a b Aurelle, D.; Guillemaud, T.; Afonso, P.; Morato, T.; Wirtz, P.; Santos, R. S. S.; Cancela, M. L. (2003). "Genetic study of Coris julis (Osteichthyes, Perciformes, Labridae) evolutionary history and dispersal abilities". Comptes Rendus Biologies. 326 (8): 771–785. doi:10.1016/j.crvi.2003.08.001. Retrieved 29 June 2025.
  5. ^ Louisy, Patrick (2006). Trainito, Egidio (ed.). Guida all'identificazione dei pesci marini d'Europa e del Mediterraneo (in Italian). Trezzano sul Naviglio: Il Castello. ISBN 88-8039-472-X.
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