Animal Species:Giant Sweetlips, Plectorhinchus albovittatus (Rüppell, 1838)

The species occurs in tropical marine waters. Adult Giant Sweetlips are found as solitary individuals or in pairs on outer reef slopes.

Giant Sweetlips near Corbett Reef

Giant Sweetlips near Corbett Reef
Erik Schlögl © Erik Schlögl

Identification

Adult Giant Sweetlips have black pectoral, pelvic and anal fins. The posterior end of the dorsal fin and the edges of the caudal fin are also black. The body and head are mottled grey to brown. Juvenile Giant Sweetlips look very different from adults; they are black with two yellow stripes above, and yellow below.

Size range

The species grow to 1 m in length.

Distribution

The species occurs in tropical marine waters of the Indo-Pacific, from East Africa, north to Japan, south to Australia, and east to Fiji. In Australia it is known from the Great Barrier Reef, Queensland.

The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums.  Source: Atlas of Living Australia.

Plectorhinchus albovittatus

Distribution by collection data

Ozcam map of Giant Sweetlips specimens in the Australian Museums.

What does this mean?

Habitat

Adult Giant Sweetlips are found as solitary individuals or in pairs on outer reef slopes. Juveniles are usually seen near the lower reaches of rivers and adjacent reefs. The species can be found at depths of 2 m to 50 m.

Classification

Species:
albovittatus
Genus:
Plectorhinchus
Family:
Haemulidae
Order:
Perciformes
Class:
Actinopterygii
Subphylum:
Vertebrata
Phylum:
Chordata
Kingdom:
Animalia

What does this mean?

References

  1. Hoese, D.F., Bray, D.J., Paxton, J.R. & G.R. Allen. 2006. Fishes. In Beesley, P.L. & A. Wells. (eds) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Volume 35. ABRS & CSIRO Publishing: Australia. parts 1-3, pages 1-2178.
  2. Myers, R.F. 1999. Micronesian Reef Fishes. Coral Graphics. Pp. 222.
  3. Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 415.

 


Mark McGrouther , Collection Manager, Ichthyology
Last Updated:

Tags Fishes, Ichthyology, Giant Sweetlips, Plectorhinchus albovittatus, Haemulidae, tropical water, marine, solitary, outer reef slopes, balck fins, grey, brown, blotches/mottled, 30 cm - 1 m, juveniles have stripes, Great Barrier Reef,