Coris sandageri Phillips 1927

eastern king wrasse, Sandager's wrasse

The female, Eastern King Wrasse, Coris sandageri, (above)  has delicate, pearly colours with dark marks. Males- are white behind the head with two dark vertical bars and a yellow blotch. Juveniles have a gold horizontal stripe and black tail spot.

A single territorial male controls a harem of females. This species only active during the day and sleeps at night buried under the sand .