WHATSTHATFISH
Bony fish

Spot-tail Coris

Coris caudimacula

Also known as: Sand Wrasse, Spotfin Coris, Spot-tail Wrasse, Tailspot Rainbow Wrasse, Tailspot Wrasse

LCLeast ConcernIUCN Red List, 2010
Adult
@fishx6 · Blowholes, Quobba, Carnarvon, WA, Australia · July 20141 / 26
01

Overview

Found singly on sandy areas and in seagrass beds of coastal lagoons and outer reefs rich in algae growth.

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.

02

How to identify

Fins & Tail
black tail spot
Behaviour
solitary

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

03

Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Indian Ocean
  • Exact location · 8
  • Country only · 18
LIVES IN

Found singly on sandy areas and in seagrass beds of coastal lagoons and outer reefs rich in algae growth.

04

Adult photos 26

05

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 caudimacula (Quoy & Gaimard, 1834)

    SourcesWoRMSFishBase

    06

    More in the family

    Wrasses (Labridae)