Plectorhinchus lessonii

Osteichthyes Haemulidae Genus Plectorhinchus Plectorhinchus lessonii

Striped sweetlips GFH

26.5 cm TL

Characteristic features:

Colour:

Pale with 4 or 5 broad brown stripes on upper sides; 2 or 3 brown stripes below eye; posterior fins spotted. Juveniles dark with white horizontal stripes above and below eye along entire body length, pectoral fins dark with white margins.

Size:

Up to 40 cm TL.

Important conditions and life stages:

Juveniles dark with white horizontal stripes above and below eye along entire body length, pectoral fins dark with white margins.

Distribution:

Indo-West Pacific in tropical waters.

Habitat:

Close to coral reefs, to 35 m depth.

Biology:

A solitary species.

Indonesian fisheries:

Caught with handlines.

Similar species:

Plectorhinchus lineatus
Lined sweetlips

Plectorhinchus lineatus differs in having a red blotch on pectoral-fin base (vs. black blotch).

to Plectorhinchus lineatus

Plectorhinchus polytaenia
Ribbon sweetlips

Plectorhinchus polytaenia differs in having all fins bright yellow (vs. at least the dorsal, caudal and anal fins yellow with black spots) and black/brown stripes alternating with white stripes with some yellow colouration dorsally (vs. yellow horizontal stripes alternating with black-edged white stripes).

to Plectorhinchus polytaenia

Plectorhinchus vittatus
Oriental sweetlips

Plectorhinchus vittatus differs in having upper stripes horizontal on body across nape, interorbital, and snout in adults (vs. upper stripes horizontal on body but bending downward and converging on snout).

to Plectorhinchus vittatus

External links:

FishBase