Queen Coris Coris formosa

The attractively-marked Queen Coris is a wrasse native to the Indian Ocean (including the Red Sea). It can grow to 60cm long. It swims using mainly pectoral fins. Adults have strong teeth and diet is crustaceans, molluscs and sea urchins.

Adult females are generally bluish or greenish grey with black spots on the flank and neon blue lines on the face. All are born female.

They are territorial. Juveniles are orange and brown; above is a sub-adult and an adult female. The adult colours are used in attracting mates.

Females transition to males late in life and change colours. The male terminal phase has body stripes.