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 .
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.
Behavioural data for Mediterranean rainbow wrasse is currently being reviewed.
Diet information for Mediterranean rainbow wrasse is currently being compiled.
Females change sex to males before 18 cm TL. Sex reversal is completed in several weeks up to 5.5 months . Also Ref. 103751.
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.
small gastropods, sea urchins, shrimps, worms, isopods and amphipods
| 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 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 |
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 707 records indexed .
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