Slate Sweetlips, Diagramma labiosum (Macleay, 1883)

ANIMAL SPECIES:Slate Sweetlips, Diagramma labiosum (Macleay, 1883)

Adult Slate Sweetlips are uniform grey, sometimes with scattered botches. Juveniles have a thick, black mid-lateral stripe and a black stripe along the upper back and dorsal fin. As juveniles grow, spots appear between the stripes.

Identification

Adult Slate Sweetlips are uniform grey, sometimes with scattered botches.

Juveniles have a thick, black mid-lateral stripe and a black stripe along the upper back and dorsal fin. As juveniles grow, spots appear between the stripes.

Size range

The Slate Sweetlips grows to 1 m in length.

Distribution

The species occurs in subtropical marine waters of Australia and southern Papua New Guinea.

In Australia it is known from southern Western Australia, around the tropical north of the country, and south to southern New South Wales.

Habitat

It lives in shallow estuaries and lagoons.

Behaviour and adaptations

Other behaviours and adaptations

It is sometimes seen in large schools.

Classification

Species:: labiosum
Genus:: Diagramma
Family:: Haemulidae
Class:: Actinopterygii
Subphylum:: Vertebrata
Phylum:: Chordata
Kingdom:: Animalia

What does this mean?

References

Allen, G.R. 1997. Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and South-east Asia. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 292.
Kuiter, R.H. 2000. Coastal Fishes of South-eastern Australia. Gary Allen. Pp. 437.
Kuiter, R.H. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. New Holland. Pp. 433.
Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 251. (as D.pictum)

Last Updated: 15 May 2009

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