Queen coris
species of fish
The queen coris (Coris formosa), also known as the sand wrasse, Queen coris wrasse, Formosan coris, Formosa coris wrasse, Formosa wrasse, Indian Ocean wrasse or Indian sand wrasse, is a species of wrasse native to the Indian Ocean from the Red Sea and the coast of east Africa to Sri Lanka. This species appears in the aquarium trade due to its vibrant colors.
Distribution and habitat
Adults of this species are inhabitants of neritic oceanic coral reefs, and can be found at depths from 2 to 50 m (6.6 to 164.0 ft); meaning they are found in tropical waters within 24 °C to 27 °C. While juveniles are commonly found in tide pools, adults can be found usually in rocky, and coral areas, sometimes in vegetation. The species is distributed along the Western Indian Ocean, Southern Red Sea, South Africa, and east to Sri Lanka.
Description
Similar in appearance to Coris gaimard, the queen coris can measure between the range of 20 cm (7.9 in) when young, but can grow up to approximately 60 cm (24 in). Its coloration usually varies within three different patterns. Generally it tends to be reddish to lavender in vibrant, striking color. When in adulthood, the creature appears blue-greenish, with dark edges and dark blue spots, covering the body (mainly towards the tail), with a red-orange line on its posterior margin towards the tail. Towards the rostrum, the adult queen coris will also display vibrant, light blue, organic [?] lines. The fish has nine dorsal spines, twelve dorsal soft rays, and three anal spines.
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This entry incorporates text from “Queen coris” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.