Mediterranean Rainbow Wrasse Coris julis

The Mediterranean Rainbow Wrasse is native to the northeastern Atlantic Ocean including the Mediterranean and the Canary Islands.

It grows can to 25cm long. Colour patterns vary by region, gender and phase of the subadult and adult. Above right is a female transitioning to male (they are sequentional hermaphrodites).

Adult males have a pale turquoise-blue top and bright white underside with a lateral line of orange diamond shapes and a royal blue flash bordered in black.

The females, above, are red-orange or reddish brown on top with a white lateral line and pale belly. Diet is small crustaceans, molluscs and urchins.