TAXONOMY
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes (Perch-likes)
Family: Haemulidae (Grunts) bottom-feeding predators, named for their ability to produce sound by grinding their teeth.
Genus/species Plectorhinchus chaetodonoides
GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS: Juveniles brown with large white blotches. Becomes more spotted with age, reversing from white to black spotted in the process. Deeper bodies compared to most others in the genus
Length is up to 72 cm (29 inches) and weight to 7,000 g (15.5 pounds)
DISTRIBUTION/HABITAT Indo-West Pacific oceans. Inhabits coral-rich areas of clear lagoon and seaward reefs. 1 – 30 m (3-90 ft).
DIET IN THE WILD: Carnivore. Feeds on crustaceans, mollusks, and fishes at night.
CONSERVATION: IUCN Not evaluated
References
California Academy of Sciences Philippine coral reef 2016
Ron’s flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/cas_docents/sets/72157625992053826/
Ron’s WordPress Shortlink http://wp.me/p1DZ4b-nP
fishbase fishbase.org/summary/Plectorhinchus-chaetodonoides.html
