Creole wrasse

Photo: mdchachi · CC BY-NC

Schools of thousands of creole wrasse hover in the water column above Kelleston Drain's reef crest, feeding on zooplankton swept in by the current. They are important mid-water prey for larger pelagics and their schooling behaviour creates the dramatic living curtain effect that photographers seek. Juveniles are yellow and solitary; adults transition to a distinctive purple-blue and form the massive aggregations the site is known for.