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ALEXANDRE MEINESZ

Ornate Wrasse

In Dive.Explo360: Mediterranean · Northeast Atlantic · Atlantic Ocean

The Ornate Wrasse is hard to overlook on a dive. Its bright colours and fast swimming bring Neptune grass meadows and rocky areas to life. Always searching for small prey, it is one of the most emblematic fish of Mediterranean waters.

Habitat de Ornate Wrasse Habitat
Seagrass meadow, Rocky habitat
Profondeur de Ornate Wrasse Depth
1-25 m
Groupe biologique de Ornate Wrasse Group
Demersal fish
Rôle écologique de Ornate Wrasse Role
Predator

WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?

A very colourful, slender fish, the Ornate Wrasse has colour patterns that vary considerably with sex and life stage. Juveniles and females show greenish to pinkish tones with longitudinal stripes, while males display brighter colours combining green, blue, orange and red. Its body is streamlined, adapted to fast, sustained swimming. Like several wrasses, it can bury itself in the sand to spend the night or protect itself.

WHERE DOES IT LIVE?

It frequents shallow coastal areas, particularly Neptune grass meadows, rocky areas and places rich in algae. It is found mainly in the warm waters of the Mediterranean and some regions of the eastern Atlantic.

WHAT DOES IT EAT?

It is an active predator that feeds mainly on small invertebrates. Its diet includes crustaceans, molluscs and various benthic organisms, which it catches while exploring the seabed or seagrass meadows.

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Other species — Demersal fish

Peacock wrasse Sharpsnout seabream Mediterranean Rainbow Wrasse White seabream Gilthead Seabream Black Seabream Goldsinny Wrasse Peacock Wrasse

Same habitat and depth

Seagrass meadow species Rocky seabed species

Same ecological role and depth

Predatory species

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