One of the most colorful fish of the Eastern Med, the Ornate wrasse reminds me of a busy butterfly flying from flower to flower. It swims very fast using only its pectoral fins, a characteristic of the Wrasse family (Giloi, xeiloudes). Thalassoma pavo displays hermaphroditic protogyny, which means that it is born a female and later on in life it transforms into a completely different, more vibrantly colored male. These wrasses are thermophylic (prefering warm water) inhabiting rocky, coastal areas. Their density increases along with temperature, and due to the recent sea temperature rise, their distribution is spreading northwards towards the Adriatic and Ligurian Sea.
Their Greek common names are Gaitanouri, Galani or simply Gilos.
Favorite food includes small crabs and shells.
Recently, I came upon an impressive lonely male and a different population of many females and their males in a very impressive gathering/harem.
The males can reach 25 cm in length and cannot be mistaken with their beautiful lunar tail and exotic blue/pink painted face ,yellow/green body and one single blue band going down after the gills. The females are smaller with blue bands and a black spot under their dorsal fin in the middle of the body.
