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Giant Sweetlips
Plectorhinchus albovittatus (Rüppell, 1838)
A Giant Sweetlips at a depth of 20m, 16km north north-east of Corbett Reef, far northern Great Barrier Reef, Queensland, December 2001. View larger image.
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.
This species grows to 1m in length.
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.
This fish can be found at depths of 2m to 50m.
It 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.
Further reading
- Myers, R.F. 1999. Micronesian Reef Fishes. Coral Graphics. Pp. 222.
- Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 415.
Copyright © Australian Museum, 2006
Page researched and compiled by
K. Parkinson & M. McGrouther, July 2003.
