Blackspotted rubberlip (Plectorhinchus gaterinus)

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 gaterinus · Authority: (Forsskål, 1775) · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 218552.

Synonyms and superseded combinations recorded for this taxon: Gaterin gaterinus (Forsskål, 1775); Plectorhynchus gaterinus (Forsskål, 1775); Plectorinchus gaterinus (Forsskål, 1775); Sciaena abumgaterin Forsskål, 1775; Sciaena gaterina Forsskål, 1775.

Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=218552 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Biology and life history (FishBase)

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

Maximum length: 50 cm · Common length: 35 cm · Depth range: 55–80 m · Habitat zone: reef-associated · Body shape: fusiform / normal · Vulnerability index: 40 of 100 · Fishery importance: commercial · Aquarium trade: never/rarely.

FishBase notes: Occurs in coastal reefs, sand banks and near estuaries (Ref. 2871). Often in large groups under ledges or along coral slopes by day (Ref. 9710). Flesh with an iodoform taste (Ref. 2799). Maximum depth reported taken from Ref. 9773.

Source: FishBase species summary (SpecCode 7703) — https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Plectorhinchus-gaterinus.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)

833 georeferenced occurrence records for Plectorhinchus gaterinus are published through GBIF from 24 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 94 distinct locations from a sample of 833 records, omitting 25 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: Egypt (307); Mozambique (145); Madagascar (98); Kenya (92); Saudi Arabia (67); Tanzania, United Republic of (41); Oman (16); United Arab Emirates (14); Djibouti (8); Sudan (7); Seychelles (6); Eritrea (5); Mayotte (5); Yemen (4); Réunion (3).

Marine regions with a valid WoRMS distribution record: Mozambican Exclusive Economic Zone; Madagascar; Mauritian Exclusive Economic Zone; Comoran Exclusive Economic Zone; Red Sea; Kenyan Exclusive Economic Zone; Djiboutian Exclusive Economic Zone; Tanzanian Exclusive Economic Zone; South Africa (country); Somali Exclusive Economic Zone.

Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 2382665) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=2382665&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=218552 (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 gaterinus (Forsskål, 1775) 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 49677217) — https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/49677217/0; GBIF IUCN Red List category endpoint (taxonKey 2382665) — https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/2382665/iucnRedListCategory. Accessed 2026-09-25.

Description and natural history (Wikipedia)

Plectorhinchus gaterinus has fleshy lips but these do not have a swollen appearance. The chin has 6 pores but lacks a median pit. Its pelvic fins are longer than its pectoral fins. The predominant colour is yellowish grey with a greenish back and yellowish belly.

The body and fins are marked with rows of dark grey or black-brown spots. The juveniles are light silver-grey and have yellow fins and 5 to 7 brown horizontal bands which split up into lines of spots once the fish grows to a standard length of 10 to 12 cm. The dorsal fin has 13 spines and 19-20 soft rays and the anal fin contains 3 spines and 7 soft rays. This species attains a maximum total length of 50 cm, although 35 cm is more typical.

Distribution

Plectorhinchus gaterinus is found in the Western Indian Ocean. It occurs along the eastern coast of Africa from KwaZulu Natal north into the Red Sea as far north as the Gulf of Aqaba. It is also found in the Sea of Oman and the Persian Gulf and around the islands of the Seychelles, Mauritius, Madagascar, Réunion and Comoro Islands. A juvenile was recovered from the gut of a European squid (Loligo vulgaris) in the Aegean Sea which may indicate Lessepsian migration through the Suez Canal but this is thought unlikely.

Habitat and biology

Plectorhinchus gaterinus is found at depths of 5 to 55 m on coastal reefs, sand banks and in the vicinity of estuaries. It is frequently found in large aggregations below ledges or along reef slopes during the day. The juveniles often occur in beds of sea grass.

They feed on mainly on smaller fishes and crustaceans. A spawning aggregation has been observed in the Persian Gulf off Kuwait. It is an oviparous species which spawns as distinct pairs.

Systematics

Plectorhinchus gaterinus was first formally described in 1775 as Sciaena gaterina by the Danish zoologist Johan Christian Fabricius with the type locality being Jeddah. Fishbase attributes the description to Peter Forskål but Catalog of Fishes suggests that Forskål published Fabricius's description posthumously in Descriptiones animalium which was in turn published after Forskål's death by Carsten Niebuhr. The specific name gaterinus is derived from the local Arabic name for this species on the Red Sea coast of Saudi Arabia,.

Utilisation

Plectorhinchus gaterinus is fished throughout its range using handlines and gill nets and the catch is sold fresh. Catch statistics are not reported for this species. The flesh is nor regarded highly as it has an iodoform taste. The juveniles are fished for the aquarium trade.

Source: Wikipedia: Plectorhinchus gaterinus — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plectorhinchus_gaterinus (CC BY-SA 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.