Clown coris facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Clown coris |
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The clown coris (Coris aygula) is a fascinating fish known by many names, like the clown wrasse or humphead wrasse. It's a type of wrasse that lives in the warm waters of the Indian Ocean and the western Pacific Ocean.
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What Does the Clown Coris Look Like?
This amazing fish can grow quite large, up to about 120 centimeters (nearly 4 feet) long! What's really cool is how much they change as they grow up.
Young Clown Coris
When they are young, clown coris fish look very different from adults. They are usually white and orange. They also have special "false eyes" on their top fin. These fake eyes might help them trick predators.
Adult Clown Coris
As they get older, their colors change completely. Adult clown coris are usually dark green. Some might have light bands or stripes on their bodies. A big change in adults is that they develop a noticeable bump on their forehead. This bump is why they are sometimes called "humphead wrasse."
Where Does the Clown Coris Live?
The clown coris loves to live around coral reefs. They prefer areas where there is sand or rubble on the seafloor. You can find them in waters from about 2 to 30 meters (6 to 98 feet) deep.
Home for Young Fish
Young clown coris fish often hang out in tide pools. These are small pools of water left behind on the shore when the tide goes out. Tide pools offer a safe place for young fish to grow.
Adult Life
Once they are adults, clown coris fish usually live by themselves. They are often seen swimming alone around the reef.
Where Can You Find the Clown Coris?
You can find this species across a huge area of the ocean. They live from the Red Sea and the coast of Africa in the west. Their range extends all the way east to the Line Islands and Ducie Island. You can also find them from southern Japan down to Lord Howe Island.
