Mediterranean rainbow wrasse
Coris julis
Sighting evidence at Nea Kameni Crater, Santorini
Photo: Luis P. B. · CC BY-NC
Rainbow wrasse are sequential hermaphrodites: every individual begins life as a female, with the largest and most dominant females capable of transitioning permanently to male, developing the species' characteristic orange lateral stripe. They are cleaners during juvenile stages, picking parasites from larger fish, and shift to a predatory diet of small crustaceans and molluscs in adulthood.
Evidence at this site
No confirmed records on file at this site
Mediterranean rainbow wrasse is listed as a curated species here based on historical reports.