Striped Sweetlips

Scientific Name: Plectorhinchus lessonii
Family: Sweetlips – Haemulidae
Maximum Size: 48cm
Identification: White with 4-5 brown stripes on upper body, white unmarked lower body, yellow lips; broken lines on head, spots on yellowish dorsal, anal and tail fins.
Favourite: Solitary.
Hide-out: Coastal reefs, lagoons and seaward reefs to 35m.
Location: Asian Pacific – Malaysian Peninsula and S.W. Japan to Great Barrier Reef and New Caledonia.

Ribbon Sweetlips

Scientific Name: Plectorhinchus polytaenia
Family: Sweetlips – Haemulidae
Maximum Size: 40cm
Identification: Bright yellow with bold pattern of black-edged pale blue stripes running from head to tail.
Favourite: Solitary or may form small resting groups during the day; actively forage at night on small invertebrates.
Hide-out: Coastal and seaward reefs in 5-40m.
Location: Asian Pacific – Indonesia and Philippines to Papua New Guinea and N.W. Australia.

Oriental Sweetlips

Scientific Name: Plectorhinchus vittatus
Family: Sweetlips – Haemulidae
Maximum Size: 85cm
Identification: White with black stripes, lips and fins yellow; spotted dorsal, anal and tail fins.
Favourite: Solitary or form small groups; generally nocturnally but drift in the open during the day.
Hide-out: Coastal reefs, lagoons and seaward reefs in 2-25m.
Location: Indo-West Pacific – E. Africa to Australia and Samoa, north to S.W. Japan.

Many-Spotted Sweetlips

Scientific Name: Plectorhinchus chaetodonoides
Family: Sweetlips – Haemulidae
Maximum Size: 72cm
Identification: Whitish to yellowish or greenish undercolor, unmarked whitish belly; profuse dark brown spots on head, body and fins.
Favourite: Usually solitary.
Hide-out: Often near ledges of coastal reefs, lagoons and seaward slopes in 2-30m.
Location: Indo-West Pacific – Maldives to Fiji. S.W. Japan to Australia.

Many-Lined Sweetlips

Scientific Name: Plectorhinchus multivittatum
Family: Sweetlips – Haemulidae
Maximum Size: 50cm
Identification: Pale bluish gray with bright yellow fins; wavy yellow lines on head, diagonal rows of broken yellow lines on body.
Favourite: Solitary or form small groups; nocturnally active, drift in sheltered areas during day.
Hide-out: Mainly coastal reefs in 3-20m.
Location: N.W. Australia.