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🌊 Marine Least Concern 🎣 Game Fish 🌡️ Temperate 🎣 Game Fish

Mediterranean rainbow wrasse

Coris julis Linnaeus, 1758
Coris Julis (Coris julis)
Coris Julis (Coris julis)
Max Length
30 cm
Max Weight
-
Lifespan
7 yrs
Trophic Level
3.4
Depth
0–120 m
Climate
Temperate
Resilience
Medium
Vulnerability
39.00/100
Typical Length
20 cm
Depth Zone
reef

📖 Overview

Occurs in the littoral zone, near rocks and eelgrass beds. Usually found between 1-60 m, but old males stay in deeper water. Found in deeper waters during winter. Sometimes solitary, among rocks, often with numerous specimens in its immediate vicinity. Buries itself in sand at night or when frightened. Feeds on small gastropods, sea urchins, shrimps, worms, isopods and amphipods. Sexually mature when 1 year old. Protogynous species; females change sex to become males; specimen above 18 cm length are all males . Pelagic eggs .

Scientific Name
Coris julis
Authority
Linnaeus, 1758
Habitat
Marine
Climate
Temperate
Body Shape
Fusiform / normal
IUCN Status
LC
Max Length
30 cm
Lifespan
7 years
Depth Range
0–120 m
Latitude
1°S – 59°N
Trophic Level
3.4
Resilience
Medium
Vulnerability
39.00/100
Water Temp
18–22 °C
Salinity
30–40 ppt

🔬 Taxonomy

🐟 Physical Description

Dorsal spines (total): 8 - 10; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11 - 12; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 11 - 12. Snout with 4-6 cephalic pores. Spiny rays flexible. No scales on head and on base of dorsal and anal fins. Vertebrae 25-26. Males: first 3 dorsal rays elongated, with an orange or red and black spot. Along the flanks, a- longitudinal zigzag orange or red stripe. Females and juveniles: a longitudinal large whitish stripe along flanks, a mid-longitudinal zigzag, dark brown stripe.: fusiform / normal.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Mediterranean rainbow wrasse is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

Diet information for Mediterranean rainbow wrasse is currently being compiled.

🥚 Reproduction

Females change sex to males before 18 cm TL. Sex reversal is completed in several weeks up to 5.5 months . Also Ref. 103751.

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Marine; reef-associated; depth range 0 - 120 m , usually 1 - 60 m . Temperate; 18°C - 22°C ; 59°N - 1°S, 32°W - 36°E south of Cape Lopez, Gabon.

🌿 Ecology

Zone Preferences
🌊 Marine 🪸 Reef Associated
Trophic Level
3.4±0.1
🧍 Solitary
Food Items

small gastropods, sea urchins, shrimps, worms, isopods and amphipods

📐 Morphometrics

Length–Weight Relationship: W = 0.00851 × L3.06 (TL)
Max TL
30cm
Dorsal Spines
9
Dorsal Rays
12
Anal Spines
3
Anal Rays
12

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

Temperature Range
18–22°C
Salinity Range
30–40ppt

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

IUCN Category
Least Concern
Assessment Date
2009

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

Population Resilience
Medium
Minimum doubling time
Fishing Vulnerability
39.00/100
Moderate vulnerability
Trophic Level
3.4
Predator
Body Shape
Fusiform / normal
Climate Zone
Temperate
Latitude Range
59°N – 1°S
Described By
Linnaeus, 1758

🌐 Names & Taxonomy

Language Common Names
🇬🇧English African rainbow wrasse · Mediterranean rainbow wrasse · Mediterranean rainbowfish · Rainbow wrasse · Rainbow wrasse, Mediterranean Rainbow Wrasse · Wrasse
🏳️Catalan donzella · guiula · juliola
🌍CES kněžík duhový
🌍CYM Gwrachod Seithliw · gwrachen seithliw
🇩🇰Danish Junkergylte
🇩🇪German Meerjunker
🌍ELL Γιούλος · Γυλάρι · Γύλος · Ιλάρι · Κατρόγυλος · Λεμοναριά · Πουρπουριά · Σπετσιάς
🌍EUS dontzeila
🇫🇮Finnish korujunkkeri
🇫🇷French Girelle · Girelle commune
🌍GLG Doncela · xulia
🌍HEB יולית ים תיכונית · יולית ים-תיכונית
🇭🇷Croatian knez
🇭🇺Hungarian szivárványhal
🇮🇹Italian Donzella · girella
🌍LIT Paprastasis junkeris
🌍MLT Gharusa · Gharusa armla · Pixxire'
🇳🇱Dutch girelle · regenbooglipvis
🌍NNO junkergylt · junkergylte
🌍NOB junkergylt · junkergylte
🇵🇱Polish Korys doncela
🇵🇹Portuguese Bodião-arco-íris-do-Mediterrâneo · Judia · Júlia · Lambaz · Piça · Piça-del-rei · Viola · peixe-rei
🇷🇺Russian Морской юнкер
🌍SLK kniažik dúhový
🌍SLV Knez
🇪🇸Spanish Coris del Mediterráneo · Doncella · Julia · Xulia
🌍SQI Peshk bari · peshk bari brezylbertë
🌍SRP knez du guja
🇸🇪Swedish junkergirella
🌍TUR Gelin Balığı · gelin baligi
🌍UKR Морський юнкер · Райдужник морський

Scientific Synonyms

Scientific Name Author Year Status
Coris festiva Valenciennes 1839 Synonym
Coris speciosa Risso 1827 Synonym
Coris taeniatus Steindachner 1863 Synonym
Julis azorensis Fowler 1919 Synonym
Julis festiva Valenciennes 1839 Synonym
Julis giofredi Risso 1827 Synonym
Julis julis Linnaeus 1758 Synonym
Julis mediterranea Risso 1827 Synonym
Julis mediterranea veridula Risso 1827 Synonym
Julis melanura Lowe 1839 Synonym
Julis speciosa Risso 1827 Synonym
Julis vulgaris Fleming 1828 Synonym
Labrus cettii Rafinesque 1810 Synonym
Labrus giofredi Risso 1810 Synonym
Labrus infuscus Walbaum 1792 Synonym
Labrus julis Linnaeus 1758 Synonym
Labrus keslik Lacepède 1801 Synonym
Labrus paroticus Linnaeus 1758 Synonym
Labrus perdica Forsskål 1775 Synonym
Labrus subfuscus Walbaum 1792 Synonym

🗺️ Global Occurrence Map

Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 707 records indexed .

Occurrence density from GBIF View GBIF records ↗

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