Coris aygula Lacepède, 1801
Clown coris
Coris aygula
photo by Muséum-Aquarium de Nancy/B. Alenda

Family:  Labridae (Wrasses), subfamily: Corinae
Max. size:  120 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range 2 - 30 m
Distribution:  Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa (Ref. 4392) to the Line and Ducie islands, north to southern Japan, south to Lord Howe and Rapa islands.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 9-9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 12-13; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 12-12. Caudal fin slightly rounded in females, truncate and with filamentous rays in large males; pelvic fins of males very long. Large males also become uniformly dark-green and develop a gibbus forehead and an elongate first dorsal spine (Ref. 1602). Juveniles distinct with the false eyes, shaded by orange (Ref. 48636).
Biology:  Occurs in the vicinity of sand or rubble patches of exposed outer reef flats, lagoon reefs, and seaward reefs (Ref. 1602), often in semi-exposed surge zones (Ref. 48636). Adults solitary. Juveniles common in shallow tide pools (Ref. 30573). Feeds mainly on hard-shelled invertebrates including crustaceans, mollusks and sea urchins (Ref. 9823). Minimum depth reported from Ref. 27115. Randall (1999, Ref. 33411) question identity of specimens exceeding 70 cm.
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 12 April 2008 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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