Fin's Fish Guide
The Elegant coris (Coris venusta) is a saltwater fish of the family Labridae that grows up to 19 cm.
Description
The elegant coris is a small wrasse occurring mainly around the Hawaiian Islands. The species grows to about 19 cm and has an oblong body with a finely striped, greenish to red-brown colour and orange and blue accents on the head. As a reef-dweller it searches over sand and rubble bottoms for small crustaceans and molluscs and buries itself in the sand at night or when threatened. Like many wrasses it is a protogynous hermaphrodite. The fish is harmless to humans. The IUCN assesses the species as Least Concern (LC).
Frequently asked questions
How do you recognise the Elegant coris?
The Elegant coris has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly green and shows a horizontal stripes pattern. Finely striped body; buries itself in the sand; protogynous hermaphrodite
Where does the Elegant coris live?
The Elegant coris lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground. Hawaii
How big does the Elegant coris get?
The Elegant coris grows to a maximum of about 19 cm.
Is the Elegant coris dangerous to humans?
No, the Elegant coris is harmless to humans. This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status.
Is the Elegant coris edible?
The Elegant coris is not usually eaten.
More photos
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All data
Identification
Appearance
Habitat & distribution
Behaviour & biology
For anglers
Safety
Status & sources
Same genus Coris
More from the family Labridae
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Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Elegant coris is one of 12,519 species in the app.