WHATSTHATFISH
Bony fish

Dapple Coris

Coris variegata

Also known as: Batu Rainbow Wrasse, Dapple Coris, Dappled Wrasse, Pallid Wrasse, Sandreef Wrasse, Schroeder's Rainbow Wrasse, Schroeder's Wrasse, Variegated Rainbowfish, Variegated Wrasse, Yellow Wrasse

LCLeast ConcernIUCN Red List, 2010
Adult
@bottleofscotch1 · Taba Heights, Egypt · October 20131 / 1
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Overview

Found singly or in small schools over rubble and sand bottoms of clear lagoons and seaward reefs.
Western Indian Ocean - Red Sea

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.

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How to identify

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Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Western Indian Ocean
  • Country only · 1
LIVES IN

Found singly or in small schools over rubble and sand bottoms of clear lagoons and seaward reefs.

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Adult photos 1

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Discussion

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    ALL STAGES
    FOR THE MARINE-BIOLOGY CURIOUS

    Deep dive

    Taxonomy

    1. kingdomAnimalia
    2. phylumChordata
    3. classTeleostei
    4. orderEupercaria incertae sedis
    5. familyLabridae
    6. genusCoris
    7. speciesCoris variegata

    SourcesFishBase

    06

    More in the family

    Wrasses (Labridae)