The Ornate Wrasse, scientifically known as Thalassoma pavo, is one of the most captivating fish dwelling in the depths of Crete. Its vibrant colours are a spectacle, and differ between males and females. Females exhibit a greenish-brown hue adorned with a dark bar on each scale and five bluish vertical stripes. On the other hand, males boast a green body with vertical red stripes and a violet face adorned with turquoise patterns. Notably, just behind the pectoral fin, a vertical blue stripe with a red border adds to their visual allure.

Inhabiting rocky seabeds adorned with lush vegetation near the coast, the Ornate Wrasse is usually found at depths of up to 30 metres. As a carnivorous species, it preys on small organisms residing on the seabed, including crustaceans, worms, and molluscs. Intriguingly, it is a primitive hermaphrodite, and each male forms a harem comprising two to ten females.

Photographs by Theano Dandari

Witness the enchanting Ornate Wrasse in the tanks of the Aquarium of Crete.