WHATSTHATFISH
Bony fish

Sandager's Wrasse

Coris sandeyeri

Also known as: Eastern King Wrasse, King Coris, King Wrasse, Rainbow Wrasse, Sand Wrasse, Sandager Wrasse

LCLeast ConcernIUCN Red List, 2010
Adult
@jcrane32 · Oeno Island, Pitcairn Islands · September 20211 / 1
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Overview

Found in harems, around sand patches of coral and rocky reefs.
Juveniles found singly or in schools, in weedy areas of reefs, acting as cleanerfish.
Widespread South West Pacific

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

Pattern
lines
Behaviour
harems

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

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Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Southwest Pacific
  • Country only · 1
LIVES IN

Found in harems, around sand patches of coral and rocky 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 sandeyeri (Hector, 1884)

    SourcesWoRMSFishBase

    06

    More in the family

    Wrasses (Labridae)