Salaria pavo

קרנון טווסי

Size range: 4 - 8 cm

Maximum size: 13 cm

Habitat:

Hard - Intertidal zone and shallow bottoms, on rocks or sand between pebbles and vegetation

Water column position:

Colors & patterns:

Basic coloration yellow-greenish
Dark vertical bars anteriorly with bright blue margins, posteriorly with a spotted pattern
Behind eye a black spot with light blue or pink margin
Spawning males with high crest which is golden-brown or orange

Behavior:

Cryptic - caves/crevices
Activity: Diurnal
Approach: Shy
Males remain in cavities above water-level during low tide
Males court by nodding and undulating movements and drive females to spawning place by biting and butting
Mature males adopt a passive role during courtship, rarely court females, do not defend nest territory, but provide parental care to eggs

Schooling characteristics:

Feeding characteristic: Omnivorous - Feed on benthic invertebrates, mainly mollusks, also algae .

They may ingest large amounts of aquatic insects and pupae

Native

EM notes: description of special east Mediterranean characteristics.