Clown coris

Clown coris
Male (terminal phase)
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1) [1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Labriformes
Family:	Labridae
Genus:	Coris
Species:	C. aygula
Binomial name
Coris aygula Lacépède, 1801
Synonyms [2]
List Coris angulataLacépède, 1801 Labrus cingulumLacépède, 1801 Hemicoris cingulum(Lacépède, 1801) Julis cingulum(Lacépède, 1801) Labrus aureomaculatus J.W. Bennett, 1830 Julis ruppelii E. T. Bennett, 1831 Julis gibbifrons Quoy & Gaimard, 1834 Julis semipunctatus Rüppell, 1835 Julis coris Valenciennes, 1839 Coris cyanea Macleay, 1883 Coris variegata Ramsay & Ogilby, 1887 Coris imbris Tanaka, 1918

The clown coris (Coris aygula), also known as the clown wrasse, false clownwrasse, humphead wrasse, hump-headed wrasse, red-blotched rainbowfish or twinspot wrasse, ^[3] is a species of wrasse native to the Indian Ocean and the western Pacific Ocean.

Description

This species can reach a total length of 120 cm (47 in). A marked difference in appearance is noted between juveniles and adults; juveniles are white and orange with false eyes on the dorsal fin, while adults are uniformly dark green or with light banding and developing a prominent forehead. ^[2]

Juvenile

Female

Male (terminal phase)

Habitat

C. aygula is an inhabitant of coral reefs where they prefer areas of sand or rubble at depths from 2 to 30 m (6.6 to 98.4 ft). They are generally solitary as adults, while juveniles can often be found in tide pools. ^[2]

Distribution

This species can be found from the Red Sea and the African coast eastward to the Line Islands and Ducie Island and from southern Japan to Lord Howe Island. ^[2]

Gallery

• 
  Juvenile
• 
  Transitioning from juvenile to adult female colours
• 
  Female
• 
  Male

References

1. Choat, J.H.; Pollard, D. (2010). "Coris aygula". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2010: e.T187802A8632709. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-4.RLTS.T187802A8632709.en . Retrieved 20 November 2021.
2. Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Coris aygula". FishBase . August 2013 version.
3. Bray, D.J. (2017). "Coris aygula". Fishes of Australia. Museums Victoria. Retrieved 5 January 2020.

External links

• Photos of Clown coris on Sealife Collection