Indian Ocean oriental sweetlips (Plectorhinchus vittatus)

Classification (WoRMS)

Full classification as recorded by WoRMS: Kingdom: Animalia · Phylum: Chordata · Class: Teleostei · Order: Eupercaria incertae sedis · Family: Haemulidae · Genus: Plectorhinchus.

Accepted name: Plectorhinchus vittatus · Authority: (Linnaeus, 1758) · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 218545.

Synonyms and superseded combinations recorded for this taxon: Anthias orientalis Bloch, 1793; Bodian cuvier Bennett, 1829; Bodianus cuvier Bennett, 1829; Gaterin orientalis (Bloch, 1793); Perca vittata Linnaeus, 1758; Plectorhinchus cuvieri (Bennett, 1829); Plectorhinchus orientalis (Bloch, 1793); Plectorhynchus orientalis (Bloch, 1793); Plectorhynchus vittatus (Linnaeus, 1758); Plectorinchus vittatus (Linnaeus, 1758).

Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=218545 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Biology and life history (FishBase)

Measured values published by FishBase for Plectorhinchus vittatus. Only fields the database actually holds for this species are shown; these are database values, not aquarium guidance.

Maximum length: 72 cm · Depth range: 2–25 m · Habitat zone: reef-associated · Body shape: fusiform / normal · Vulnerability index: 55.1 of 100 · Fishery importance: commercial · Aquarium trade: never/rarely.

FishBase notes: Inhabits coral reefs and inshore rocky reefs (Ref. 30573). Juveniles solitary, inhabits clear shallow protected lagoon; adults may be solitary or occur in aggregations (Ref. 37816). by handline and spear. Marketed fresh, a small quantity is salted (Ref. 47695).

Source: FishBase species summary (SpecCode 25706) — https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Plectorhinchus-vittatus.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)

2,226 georeferenced occurrence records for Plectorhinchus vittatus are published through GBIF from 40 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 307 distinct locations from a sample of 2,226 records, omitting 41 inland records that carry an institution's coordinates rather than a collection site; it shows where the species has been observed and reported, not a modelled range.

Most records by country or area: Maldives (495); Indonesia (460); American Samoa (154); Seychelles (135); Fiji (126).

The full country table, WoRMS marine regions and the sampling notes are on this species' Distribution page.

Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 2382755) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=2382755&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=218545 (CC BY 4.0); Natural Earth 110m basemap — https://www.naturalearthdata.com/ (public domain). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Conservation status (IUCN Red List)

The IUCN Red List assesses Plectorhinchus vittatus (Linnaeus, 1758) as Least Concern (code LC). No trend, population estimate or threat analysis is given here, because none is available from this source without the Red List API; follow the source link for the full assessment, including its date.

Source: IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (taxon 82308861) — https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/82308861/0; GBIF IUCN Red List category endpoint (taxonKey 2382755) — https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/2382755/iucnRedListCategory. Accessed 2026-09-25.

Description and natural history (Wikipedia)

The Indian Ocean oriental sweetlips has fleshy lips which become greatly swollen as the fish ages. There are 6 pores on its chin but there is no median pit. The dorsal fin contains 12–14 spines and 16–20 soft rays while the anal fin has 3 spines and 7–8 soft rays. The adults of this species have a basic light greyish colour of which fades to white on the abdomen.

It has alternating black and white stripes. the black stripes normally broader on the upper body, the fins are yellow, as are the snout and forehead, The dorsal, anal and caudal fins are marked with blackish spots. The subadults have wide stripes on their head, body and fins while the juveniles have black blotches and spots that are joined but which slowly split into longitudinal stripes as they grow, the pectoral fins of juveniles are black. This species attains a maximum total length of 72 cm.

Distribution

The Indian Ocean oriental sweetlips is found in the Indo-Pacific region. Its range extends from East Africa from Djibouti to South Africa, Madagascar, the Seychelles and Mascarene Islands, the Gulf of Mannar in India and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands east to Micronesia, Samoa, the Society Islands and Guam. It can also be found from Western Australia to Papua New Guinea and New Caledonia.

Habitat and biology

The Indian Ocean oriental sweetlips inhabits shallow, coastal coral reefs, lagoons and seaward reefs at depths of 2 to 25 m. It is found singly or in small aggregations and tends to be nocturnal.

The juveniles may be found in tidepools and in beds of sea grass. It forages at night feeding on small invertebrates such crustaceans, gastropods or annelids, as well as smaller fishes. It is an oviparous species which spawns as distinct pairs.

Systematics

The Indian Ocean oriental sweetlips was first formally described as Perca vittata in 1758 by Carl Linnaeus in the 10th edition of the Systema Naturae with no type locality given. The specific name, vittatus means "banded", a reference to the bold striped pattern of adults. Some authorities regard Bloch's Plectorhinchus orientalis as a separate species rather than a synonym of P. vittatus.

Utilisation

The Indian Ocean oriental sweetlips is caught by fisheries in much of its range, and is caught using hand nets and by spear fishing and the catch is sold fresh or a small amount of it is preserved as salted fish. It is being trialled for aquaculture. It is an infrequently traded species in the aquarium trade.

Source: Wikipedia: Indian Ocean oriental sweetlips — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Ocean_oriental_sweetlips (CC BY-SA 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.