Animal Species:Spot-tail Wrasse, Coris caudimacula (Quoy & Gaimard, 1834)

Adult Spot-tail Wrasse can be recognised by their pattern of stripes and bars.  The species occurs in tropical waters of the eastern Indian and western Pacific regions.

Spot-tail Wrasse, Coris caudimacula

Spot-tail Wrasse, Coris caudimacula
Erik Schlögl © Erik Schlögl

Alternative Name/s

Spotted Tail Wrasse, Spotted-tail Wrasse, Tail-spot Rainbow-wrasse

Identification

Adult Spot-tail Wrasse have a pattern of distinct bars and stripes on the body. There is usually a spot on the rear of the operculum.

Size range

20 cm

Distribution

The species occurs in tropical waters of the eastern Indian and western Pacific regions. In Australia it is known from south-western Western Australia to northern Australia.

 

The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums. Click on the map for detailed information.  Source: Atlas of Living Australia.

Coris caudimacula

Distribution by collection data

Ozcam map of Spot-tail Wrasse specimens in the Australian Museum.

What does this mean?

Classification

Species:
caudimacula
Genus:
Coris
Family:
Labridae
Order:
Perciformes
Class:
Actinopterygii
Subphylum:
Vertebrata
Phylum:
Chordata
Kingdom:
Animalia

What does this mean?

References

  1. Allen, G.R. 2009. Field Guide to Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and South-east Asia. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 287.
  2. Hoese, D.F., Bray, D.J., Paxton, J.R. & G.R. Allen. 2006. Fishes. In Beesley, P.L. & A. Wells. (eds) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Volume 35. ABRS & CSIRO Publishing: Australia. parts 1-3, pages 1-2178.
  3. Kuiter, R.H. 2010. Labridae Fishes: Wrasses. Aquatic Photographics. Pp. 398.


Mark McGrouther , Collection Manager, Ichthyology
Last Updated:

Tags Spot-tail Wrasse, Coris caudimacula, fishes, red, pink, blue, purple, yellow, 'normal fish', 10 cm - 30 cm, stripes or bands, blotches/mottled, marine, adult,