View source for Mediterranean rainbow wrasse

{{Short description|Species of fish}}
{{Speciesbox
| image = Doncella (Coris julis), Cabo de Palos, España, 2022-07-17, DD 69.jpg
| image_caption = Male in the coast of Cape Palos (Spain)
| status = LC
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| status_ref = <ref name="iucn status 20 November 2021">{{cite iucn |author=Pollard, D. |author2=Afonso, P. |date=2010 |title=''Coris julis'' |volume=2010 |page=e.T187752A8621739 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-4.RLTS.T187752A8621739.en |access-date=20 November 2021}}</ref>
| taxon = Coris julis
| authority = ([[Carl Linnaeus|Linnaeus]], [[10th edition of Systema Naturae|1758]])
| synonyms = * ''Labrus julis'' <small>Linnaeus, 1758</small>
* ''Julis julis'' <small>(Linnaeus, 1758)</small>
* ''Labrus paroticus'' <small>Linnaeus, 1758</small>
* ''Labrus perdica'' <small>[[Peter Forsskål|Forsskål]], 1775</small>
* ''Labrus infuscus'' <small>[[Johann Julius Walbaum|Walbaum]], 1792</small>
* ''Labrus subfuscus'' <small>[[Marcus Elieser Bloch|Bloch]] & [[Johann Gottlob Theaenus Schneider|Schneider]], 1801</small>
* ''Labrus keslik'' <small>[[Bernard Germain de Lacépède|Lacépède]], 1801</small>
* ''Labrus cettii'' <small>[[Constantine Samuel Rafinesque|Rafinesque]], 1810</small>
* ''Labrus giofredi'' <small>[[Antoine Risso|Risso]], 1810</small>
* ''Julis mediterranea'' <small>Risso, 1827</small>
* ''Julis speciosa'' <small>Risso, 1827</small>
* ''Coris speciosa'' <small>(Risso, 1827)</small>
* ''Julis vulgaris'' <small>[[John Fleming (naturalist)|J. Fleming]], 1828</small>
* ''Julis melanura'' <small>[[Richard Thomas Lowe|R. T. Lowe]], 1839</small>
* ''Julis festiva'' <small>=[[Achille Valenciennes|Valenciennes]], 1839</small>
* ''Coris festiva'' <small>(Valenciennes, 1839)</small>
* ''Julis vulgaris'' <small>Valenciennes, 1839</small>
* ''Coris taeniatus'' <small>[[Franz Steindachner|Steindachner]], 1863</small>
* ''Julis azorensis'' <small>[[Henry Weed Fowler|Fowler]], 1919</small>
| synonyms_ref = <ref name = FishBase>{{FishBase|Coris|julis|month=August|year=2019}}</ref>
}}

The '''Mediterranean rainbow wrasse''' ('''''Coris julis''''') is a small, colourful fish in the family [[Labridae]]. It can be found in the [[Mediterranean Sea]] and in the northeast Atlantic Ocean from [[Sweden]] to [[Senegal]] (though it is a rare wanderer to the southern [[British Isles]]).<ref name = BMLSS>{{cite web | url = https://www.glaucus.org.uk/wrasse.htm | title = Wrasse (British Seas) | access-date = 2 February 2017 | publisher = British Marine Life Study Society | author = Dr Amanda Young}}</ref><ref name=FishBase/> Records of this species south from Senegal and the [[Cape Verde Islands]] are actually the closely related ''[[Coris atlantica]]''.<ref name=FishBase/>

It feeds on [[amphipod]]s, [[isopod]]s, [[sea urchin]]s, [[polychaete]], [[shrimp]]s, and small [[gastropod]]s.<ref name=FishBase/>

==Description==
[[File:Coris julis 14-07-05 female.jpg|Female near [[Livorno]] (Mediterranean population)|175px|thumb|left]]
Like many [[wrasse]]s, ''C. julis'' is a [[sequential hermaphrodite]]: all start in the smaller initial phase. These initial-phase individuals (both females and males) can turn into the larger secondary-phase males.<ref name=genetics>Aurelle, D., Guillemaud, T., Afonso, P., Morato, T., Wirtz, P., Santos, R.S.S., and Cancela, M.L. (2003). Genetic study of Coris julis (Osteichthyes, Perciformes, Labridae) evolutionary history and dispersal abilities. Comptes Rendus Biologies 326(8): 771-785.</ref> At a length of about {{convert|18|cm|abbr=on}}, all individuals are secondary-phase males.<ref name=FishBase/> The maximum length for the species is {{convert|25|cm|abbr=on}}. There is a marked difference in the appearance of the two phases. In the Mediterranean Sea, the secondary-phase male is green, blue, or brown, with white belly, a dark blue spot over the [[ventral fin]], and a bright orange band on the side, while the smaller primary-phase females and males are brown with yellowish sides and white bellies.<ref>{{cite book|editor=Egidio Patrick Louisy Trainito|title=Guida all'identificazione dei pesci marini d'Europa e del Mediterraneo|location=Milan|publisher=Il Castello|year= 2006|isbn=88-8039-472-X }}</ref> Populations in the Atlantic differ in colour and [[genetics]] from the Mediterranean population, but are maintained in a single species at present.<ref name="iucn status 20 November 2021" /><ref name=genetics/> If found to be separate, the scientific name ''Coris festiva'' (at present considered a [[Synonym (taxonomy)|synonym]] of ''C. julis'') is [[Available name|available]] for the Atlantic population.

==Habitat==
It is typically found near the shore in places with [[seagrass]] or rocks. It is usually found at depths of {{convert|0|-|60|m|abbr=on}}, but occurs as deep as {{convert|120|m|abbr=on}}.<ref name=FishBase/>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Coris julis}}
* {{SealifePhotos|126963}}

{{Taxonbar|from=Q919271}}

[[Category:Coris (fish)|Mediterranean rainbow wrasee]]
[[Category:Fish of the Mediterranean Sea]]
[[Category:Fish of the Black Sea]]
[[Category:Fish of the East Atlantic]]
[[Category:Marine fish of West Africa]]
[[Category:Fish described in 1758|Mediterranean rainbow wrasse]]
[[Category:Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus]]