Coris sandeyeri
Eastern king wrasse | King Wrasse | Sandager's Wrasse | Coris sandageri
Similar Species
Description
Males are easily identified by the two large black bars edged by white and yellow behind the head, whereas females lack the bars and are more drably coloured. Juveniles have a thin body with a golden stripe down the side that ends at a black spot on the base of the tail. The species is active only during daylight; at night it sleeps buried under sand. It utilises a similar behavioural strategy, with a single large male controlling a harem of females.
Information
Max Size: 25 cm
Sea Temperature Range: 14.8-24.2°C
Depth: 5-40m
Habitat Generalization Index: 15.75
Also referred to as the SGI (Species Generalisation Index), this describes the habitat niche breadth of the species. Species with values less than 15 are found in a relatively narrow range of reef habitat types (specialists), while those over 25 may be found on most hard substrates within their range (generalists). Learn more here.
Conservation and Rarity
IUCN Status: Least Concern
Occurrence: Common (28.9% of sites)
Occurrence describes how often the species is found on surveys within its distribution. It is calculated as the % of reef sites surveyed by RLS divers across all the ecoregions in which the species has been observed
Abundance: Several (9 per transect)
Abundance is calculated as the average number of individuals recorded per RLS transect, where present.
Edit by: GJ Edgar. 2008. Australian Marine Life. New Holland, Sydney