Description

Also known as African Rainbow Wrasse, Mediterranean Rainbowfish, Rainbow Wrasse, Sand-reef Wrasse.

Found singly or in schools, over eelgrass and rocky areas of lagoons, coral and rocky reefs. When alarmed and at night they bury themselves in the substrate.
They feed on hard shell invertebrates.
Length - 30cm
Depth - 0-120m
Widespread Eastern Atlantic, Mediterranean

Most reef fish seen by divers during the day, are grazers, they cruise around, just above the surface of the coral, or snoop into crevices, foraging for food.
Wrasses have small protruding teeth, which they use to graze the bottom, taking in a variety of algae, crustaceans, such as crabs, eggs, shrimps, snails and worms. Any hard coats or thick shells, are then ground down by their pharyngeal jaws, and the delicacies inside digested.
From juvenile to adult, wrasses dramatically alter their colour and body shapes.
Wrasses are always on the go during the day, but are the first to go to bed and the last to rise.
Small wrasses dive below the sand to sleep, and larger wrasses wedge themselves in crevices. Ref: https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Coris-julis