Clown coris facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Clown coris
Juvenile
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Synonyms
Coris angulata Lacépède, 1801 Labrus cingulum Lacépède, 1801 Hemicoris cingulum (Lacépède, 1801) Julis cingulum (Lacépède, 1801) Labrus aureomaculatus J.W. Bennett, 1830 Julis ruppelii E. T. Bennett, 1831 Julis gibbifrons Quoy & Gaimard, 1834 Julis semipunctatus Rüppell, 1835 Julis coris Valenciennes, 1839 Coris cyanea Macleay, 1883 Coris variegata Ramsay & Ogilby, 1887 Coris imbris Tanaka, 1918

The clown coris (Coris aygula), also known as the clown wrasse, false clownwrasse, humphead wrasse, hump-headed wrasse, red-blotched rainbowfish or twinspot wrasse, is a species of wrasse native to the Indian Ocean and the western Pacific Ocean.

Description

This species can reach a total length of 120 cm (47 in). A marked difference in appearance is noted between juveniles and adults; juveniles are white and orange with false eyes on the dorsal fin, while adults are uniformly dark green or with light banding and developing a prominent forehead.

Habitat

C. aygula is an inhabitant of coral reefs where they prefer areas of sand or rubble at depths from 2 to 30 m (6.6 to 98.4 ft). They are generally solitary as adults, while juveniles can often be found in tide pools.

Distribution

This species can be found from the Red Sea and the African coast eastward to the Line Islands and Ducie Island and from southern Japan to Lord Howe Island.

Related pages

• Clown wrasse, a species of tropical fish