Oblique-banded Sweetlips, Plectorhinchus lineatus (Linnaeus, 1758)

Scientific name: Plectorhinchus lineatus
Alternative name/s:
Diagonal-banded Sweetlips, Goldman's Sweetlips, Lined Blubber-lips, Lined Sweetlips, Many-lined Sweetlips
Oblique-banded Sweetlips, <i>Plectorhinchus lineatus</i> Click to enlarge image
]An Oblique-banded Sweetlips at a depth of 5m, the "Cod Hole", Great Barrier Reef off Lizard Island, 27 June 2002. Image: Erik Schlögl
© Erik Schlögl

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Plectorhinchus
    Species
    lineatus
    Family
    Haemulidae
    Order
    Perciformes
    Class
    Actinopterygii
    Subphylum
    Vertebrata
    Phylum
    Chordata
    Kingdom
    Animalia
  • Size Range
    The species grows to 50 cm in length.

Introduction

The Oblique-banded Sweetlips is a colourful fish. It is silvery white with oblique black bands on the body. The species occurs in the eastern Indian Ocean and Western Pacific

Identification

The Oblique-banded Sweetlips can be recognised by its colouration. It is silvery white with oblique black bands on the body. The median fins are yellow with black spots and the lips are yellow.

Habitat

It occurs in coral reef and inshore tropical areas

Distribution

This species occurs in the eastern Indian Ocean and Western Pacific. In Australia it is known from the offshore islands of north-western Western Australia and the northern Great Barrier Reef to southern 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.

References

  1. Allen, G.R. 1997. Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and South-east Asia. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 292.
  2. Allen, G.R. & R. Swainston. 1988. The Marine Fishes of Northwestern Australia. A Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 201.
  3. 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.
  4. Kuiter, R.H. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. New Holland. Pp. 433.
  5. Myers, R.F. 1999. Micronesian Reef Fishes. Coral Graphics. Pp. 330.
  6. Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 557.