Yellowtail Coris

Scientific Name: Coris gaimard
Family: Wrasses - Labridae
Maximum Size: 38cm
Identification: TP - Variable from shades of blue to green and red with yellow tail; bright yellow to green mid-body bar, brilliant blue spots rear body and tail base.
Favourite: Solitary.
Hide-out: Sand and rubble bottoms adjacent to coral reefs in 3-50m.
Location: Indo-Pacific - Indonesia to Micronesia, Hawaii and French Polynesia. S. Japan to Great Barrier Reef and Lord Howe I.

Western King Wrasse

Scientific Name: Coris auricularis
Family: Wrasses - Labridae
Maximum Size: 40cm
Identification: TP - Shades of red to maroon with white chin; white bar followed by scarlet bar behind pectoral fin, dark spot on rear gill cover, dark upper margin on pectoral fin.
Favourite: Solitary.
Hide-out: Rocky reefs or coral areas in 2-40m.
Location: Abrolhos Is. south of Coral Bay in W. Australia.

Spottail Coris

Scientific Name: Coris caudimacula
Family: Wrasses - Labridae
Maximum Size: 20cm
Identification: TP - White undercolor; 6-7 green to brown bars on back intersected by pale lateral line, black spot on front of dorsal fin, often dark spot on tail base.
Favourite: Solitary.
Hide-out: Sand, rubble and weed-covered bottoms around coastal, lagoon and outer reefs to 25m.
Location: Indo-Asian Pacific - Red Sea and E. Africa to N.W. Australia and Indonesia.

Double Header

Scientific Name: Coris bulbifrons
Family: Wrasses - Labridae
Maximum Size: 140cm
Identification: TP - Blue-gray to greenish; distinctive hump on forehead.
Favourite: Solitary.
Hide-out: Rocky reefs and coral areas in 5-30m.
Location: Southwestern Pacific - New South Wales in S.E. Australia and Lord Howe I.

Clown Coris

Scientific Name: Coris aygula
Family: Wrasses - Labridae
Maximum Size: 40cm
Identification: IP - A white bar separates light gray head and forebody from dark gray rear body.
Favourite: Solitary.
Hide-out: Sand and rubble patches near reefs in 2-30m.
Location: Indo-Pacific - E. Africa to Micronesia, Line Is, French Polynesia and east to Ducie I. S. Japan to S.E. Australia and Howe I.

Central Pacific Coris

Scientific Name: Coris centralis
Family: Wrasses - Labridae
Maximum Size: 30cm
Identification: TP/IP - Whitish with brownish mid-lateral stripe that is usually broken into separate blotches. TP - Usually with a second row of blotches.
Favourite: Solitary.
Hide-out: Commonly over sand and rubble bottoms of outer reefs in 5-46m.
Location: Central Pacific - Phoenix and Line Is. in eastern Central Pacific.