Introducing our September Fish of the Month, the Ornate Wrasse, Thalassoma pavo!
Survey Regions: Ornate Wrasses are found throughout the Mediterranean Sea and northeast Atlantic Ocean, including islands like the Azores and Canary Islands. Click here to see a distribution report for this species in the REEF database.
Size: They are typically about 8 inches long.
Identifying Features: Ornate Wrasses have a blue pattern on their head and thin blue-green bars on a yellow to greenish-orange body. Terminal phase males (pictured) have a large blue bar behind the head.
Fun Facts: Ornate Wrasses are typically found in shallow water on rocky bottoms. They often forage in groups
Thanks for reading, and stay tuned for our next Fish of the Month.
Photo by Stacey Henderson.