TAXONOMY

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum:  Chordata
Class:  Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
Order: Perciformes (Perch-likes)
Family: Haemulidae (Grunts)

GENUS/SPECIES  Plectorhinchus vittatus

 

 

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS; Juveniles are reddish-brown with white or cream-colored blotches at a size of less than 13 cm (5.1 inches). Adults have prominent lips and boldly patterned. White with black lines that extend onto the belly Lips and fins are yellow with spotted dorsal, anal and tail fins.

Length up to 86 cm (33.9 inches)

 

DISTRIBUTION/HABITAT: East Africa to Samoa, north to the Ryukus, south to Mauritius and New Caledonia.  Found in clear lagoons, reef channels, reef faces and slopes at depths of 5 to 80 feet.   

 DIET IN THE WILD:  P. vittatus  are bottom feeding carnivores preferring crustaceans, mollusks and small fish they can swallow whole. 

 REPRODUCTION: Oviparous

 CONSERVATION: IUCN Red List Not Evaluated

 

 

CONSERVATION: Not evaluated

References

 California Academy of Sciences Philippine coral reef 2016

 fishbase  www.fishbase.org/summary/Plectorhinchus-vittatus.html

 EOL  eol.org/pages/988173/details

 Ron’s flickr  http://www.flickr.com/photos/cas_docents/sets/72157625992053826/

Ron’sWordpress Shortlink  http://wp.me/p1DZ4b-Aq