Thalassoma pavo

Photo by Shahar Malamud

Size range: 1-27 cm

Common size: 15-20 cm

Depth range: 0-150 m

Habitat:

• Hard - rocky
• Vegetation - sea grass

Water column position:

• Supra-benthic

Schooling characteristics:

• Solitary
• Small groups

Colors & patterns:

• Females -a reticulated blue pattern on head
• 5 thin blue-green bars
• Black spot on back
• Tail lyre-shaped
• Background colour golden-yellow, more or less greenish or orange depending on individuals, sometimes pale
• Sides with typical thin vertical streaks, and occasionally a longitudinal dark band.
• Males-one large blue bar behind head
• Body stockier tail neatly lyre-shaped
• Juveniles- a very pronounced dorsal blotch, extending onto dorsal fins
• Tail with rounded edge
• Body entirely green in small juveniles, sometimes up to 5 cm.
• In larger femalesabout to reverse sex- the black dorsal patch disappears first, other colour features usually changing later

Behavior:

1. Whether the species is:

• Reef-associated - related to sites it inhabits

2. Activity:

• TBC

3. Approach:

• Easily approached

4. Unique behavior: TBC

5. Feeding characteristic - crustaceavore.

Native/Exotic:

Native

EM notes: description of special east Mediterranean characteristics.