Scientific Name
Coris julis

Common Name
Mediterranean rainbow wrasse

Biology
Dorsal spines (total): 8 - 10; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11-12; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 11 - 12. Snout with 4-6 cephalic pores. Spiny rays flexible. No scales on head and on base of dorsal and anal fins. Vertebrae 25-26. Males: first 3 dorsal rays elongated, with an orange or red and black spot. Along the flanks, a- longitudinal zigzag orange or red stripe. Females and juveniles: a longitudinal large whitish stripe along flanks, a mid-longitudinal zigzag, dark brown stripe.

Classification

Classified By

Linnaeus, 1758

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Perch-like fish (Perciformes)

Family

Wrasses (Labridae)

Distribution

Region

Eastern Atlantic

Distribution

Eastern Atlantic: Sweden to south of Cape Lopez, Gabon. Also known from the Mediterranean Sea. Specimen of Coris from Cape Verde and Senegal southward are probably Coris atlantica (Ref. 33411), here still treated as a junior synonym pending a definite publication of validity.

Range

59°N - 1°S, 32°W - 36°E

Environment

Climate

Temperate

Water Temperature From

18 °C

Water Temperature To

22 °C

Depth From - meters

0 m

Depth To - meters

120 m

Zone

reef-associated

Environment

Marine; reef-associated; depth range 0 - 120 m (Ref. 27115), usually 1 - 60 m (Ref. 4742)

Trophic Level

3.2 s.e. 0.45 Based on diet studies.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

False

Occurs in Fresh Water

False

Occurs on Reefs

True

Is kept in Aquariums

True

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

30.0 cm

Common Length

20.0 cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.5000 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: minor commercial; gamefish: yes; aquarium: commercial

Vulnerability

High vulnerability (60 of 100)

Resilience

Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (K=0.11; tm=1)

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Least Concern (LC)