Giant Sweetlips Click to enlarge image
A Giant Sweetlips at a depth of 20m, 16 km north north-east of Corbett Reef, far northern Great Barrier Reef, Queensland, December 2001. Image: Erik Schlögl
© Erik Schlögl

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Plectorhinchus
    Species
    albovittatus
    Family
    Haemulidae
    Order
    Perciformes
    Class
    Actinopterygii
    Subphylum
    Vertebrata
    Phylum
    Chordata
    Kingdom
    Animalia
  • Size Range
    The species grow to 1 m in length.

Introduction

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

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.

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.

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.


Distribution data sourced from the Atlas of Living Australia

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.