Yellowtail Coris (juvenile)

Coris gaimard among other vernacular names, is a species of wrasse native to the tropical waters of the central Indian Ocean and the western Pacific Ocean, from Christmas Islands and Cocos Keeling Islands to the Society Islands, Hawaii, and from Japan to Australia. It is an inhabitant of coral reefs, being found in areas that offer a mix of sand patches, rubble, and coral at depths from 1 to 50 m. This species can also be found in the aquarium trade and is popular species for display in public aquaria.

Description

This species can reach 40 cm in total length, though most do not exceed 20 cm. As a juvenile, it is a bright red colour with large, black-margined white spots. As an adult, it has a pink face and fins, with the exception of the tail fin, which is bright yellow. The body is green towards the anterior darkening and decorated with bright blue specks towards the caudal peduncle. The fish also gains a very bright orange anterior when it grows into adulthood, and has a drastically shaded body in the posterior region that is dotted with obscenely bright blue spots ringed with dark blue.

Distribution

Pacific Ocean: Christmas and Cocos-Keeling Islands in the eastern Indian Ocean to the Society and Tuamoto islands, north to Japan and the Hawaiian Islands, south to Australia. Replaced by Coris cuvieri in the Indian Ocean

Habitat

A solitary species found in areas of mixed coral, sand and rubble of exposed outer reef flats, lagoon and seaward reefs. Benthopelagic. Feeds mainly on mollusks, crabs, and hermit crabs, and occasionally on tunicates and forams.