Indonesian Sweetlips

Scientific Name: Diagramma melanacrum
Family: Sweetlips - Haemulidae
Maximum Size: 50cm
Identification: Gray with brown spotting on body, larger blackish spots on yellow dorsal and tail fins, black ventral and anal fins. Large juveniles have combination of stripes and longitudinal rows of spots.
Favourite: Solitary or form groups over sand bottoms.
Hide-out: Coastal reefs and lagoons in 3-40m.
Location: Asian Pacific - Malaysian Peninsula, Indonesia and Philippines.

Diagonal-Banded Sweetlips

Scientific Name: Plectorhinchus lineatus
Family: Sweetlips - Haemulidae
Maximum Size: 48cm
Identification: White with black body bands and white belly; 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 to 35m.
Location: Asian Pacific - Indonesia and Philippines to Great Barrier Reef and New Caledonia, north to S.W. Japan.

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.

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.

Gold-Spotted Sweetlips

Scientific Name: Plectorhinchus flavomaculatus
Family: Sweetlips - Haemulidae
Maximum Size: 60cm
Identification: Gray with orange and blue stripes on head and small orange spots on upper body extending onto dorsal and tail fins.
Favourite: Solitary or form small groups.
Hide-out: Sheltered coastal reefs and lagoons in 2-25m.
Location: Indo-Asian Pacific - Red Sea and E. Africa to Papua New Guinea. 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.

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.

Giant Sweetlips

Scientific Name: Plectorhinchus albovittatus
Family: Sweetlips - Haemulidae
Maximum Size: 100cm
Identification: Dusky gray mottled body; faint wide dark bar behind pectoral fin; black ventral fins and black edges on dorsal, anal and tail fins.
Favourite: Solitary.
Hide-out: Lagoon and seaward reefs in 2-50m.
Location: Indo-West Pacific - Red Sea and E. Africa to Fiji. S.W. Japan to Australia.

Blubberlip

Scientific Name: Plectorhinchus gibbosus
Family: Sweetlips - Haemulidae
Maximum Size: 60cm
Identification: Gray to brown with charcoal-gray head; black margin on cheek and gill cover, dark outlines around scales, may display dusky wide bar on back and forebody; high back profile.
Favourite: Solitary.
Hide-out: Coastal reefs, lagoons and outer slopes to 25m.
Location: Indo-West Pacific - Red Sea and E. Africa to Samoa. S.W. Japan to Australia.

Goldstriped Sweetlips

Scientific Name: Plectorhinchus chrysotaenia
Family: Sweetlips - Haemulidae
Maximum Size: 50cm
Identification: Silvery-blue with numerous yellow stripes, bright yellow fins.
Favourite: Solitary or form groups.
Hide-out: Coral-rich areas of coastal reefs and lagoons in 6-70m.
Location: Asian Pacific - S.W. Japan and Molucca Is. in Indonesia to Great Barrier Reef and New Caledonia.