Harry hotlips (Plectorhinchus gibbosus)

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 gibbosus · Authority: (Lacepède, 1802) · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 218539.

Synonyms and superseded combinations recorded for this taxon: Diagramma crassispinum Rüppell, 1838; Diagramma gibbosus Hombron & Jacquinot, 1853; Gaterin niger (Cuvier, 1830); Holocentrus gibbosus Lacepède, 1802; Plectorhinchus gibbosus (Hombron & Jacquinot, 1853); Plectorhinchus nigrus (Cuvier, 1830); Plectorhynchus crassispinus (Rüppell, 1838); Plectorhynchus gibbosus (Lacepède, 1802); Plectorhynchus gibbus (Lacepède, 1802); Plectorhynchus niger (Cuvier, 1830); Plectorhynchus nigrus (Cuvier, 1830); Plectorinchus gibbosus (Lacepède, 1802); Pristipoma nigrum Cuvier, 1830; Pseudopristipoma nigra (Cuvier, 1830); Pseudopristipoma nigrum (Cuvier, 1830); Pseudopristipoma nigrus (Cuvier, 1830).

Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=218539 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Biology and life history (FishBase)

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

Maximum length: 75 cm · Depth range: 8–25 m · Habitat zone: reef-associated · Body shape: short and / or deep · Vulnerability index: 45 of 100 · Fishery importance: commercial · Aquarium trade: never/rarely.

FishBase notes: Found in coastal reefs, sandbanks, and near estuaries (Ref. 30573). Enter freshwater (Ref. 7050).

Small juveniles occur along sheltered sandy shorelines where they mimic a dead leaf by drifting on their sides (Ref. 37816). Adults mainly in protected inshore reefs to deep offshore, sometimes swims in small groups (Ref. 48635). Excellent food fish (Ref. 2799).

Source: FishBase species summary (SpecCode 6366) — https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Plectorhinchus-gibbosus.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)

1,322 georeferenced occurrence records for Plectorhinchus gibbosus are published through GBIF from 46 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 295 distinct locations from a sample of 1,322 records, omitting 80 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: Australia (719); New Caledonia (70); Seychelles (57); Thailand (57); Indonesia (46).

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

Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 9815299) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=9815299&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=218539 (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 gibbosus (Lacepède, 1802) 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 196408) — https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/196408/0; GBIF IUCN Red List category endpoint (taxonKey 9815299) — https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/9815299/iucnRedListCategory. Accessed 2026-09-25.

Description and natural history (Wikipedia)

Plectorhinchus gibbosus has fleshy lips which become grossly swollen with age, it has 6 pores on its chin but has no median pit. The dorsal fin contains 14 spines and 15–16 soft rays while the anal fin has 3 spines and 7–8 soft rays. The overall colour is silvery-grey to brownish with dark edges to the scales, a dusky face, a thin dark bar on the anterior of the operculum which has a black rear margin.

The soft rayed part of the dorsal fin, anal fin and caudal fin are dusky. The juveniles are brownish in colour with a pink or transparent caudal fin and mimic fallen leaves by drifting with the body oriented with their sides parallel to the surface. This species attains a maximum total length of 75 cm.

Distribution

Plectorhinchus gibbosus has a wide Indo-Pacific distribution. It is found along the eastern coast of Africa from Kenya to South Africa and along the southern coast of Asia into the Pacific as far east as Polynesia, north as far as the Ryukyu Islands of southern Japan and south to Australia. In Australia its range extends from the Ningaloo Reef in Western Australia along the northern coasts and south on the eastern coast as far as Flinders Island in Tasmania, as well as Lord Howe Island and Norfolk Island in the Tasman Sea. It is also found off the Indian Ocean islands of Socotra, Seychelles, Madagascar and the western Mascarenes.

Habitat and biology

Plectorhinchus gibbosus occurs at depths of 8 to 25 m in coastal reefs, over sandbanks, and in the vicinity of estuaries and will enter fresh water. The small juveniles are found along sheltered sandy shorelines where they float on their sides camouflaged as fallen leaves.

The adults prefer waters protected by inshore reefs but can also be found offshore in deep water, frequently recorded forming in small aggregations. In captivity they are known to eat crustaceans and other invertebrates and fish. It is an oviparous species which spawns as distinct pairs.

Systematics

Plectorhinchus ceylonensis was first formally described in 1802 as Holocentrus gibbosus by the French naturalist and politician Bernard Germain de Lacépède with the type locality being given as Surinam, erroneously, but is probably Indonesia. The specific name means "humpbacked", a reference to the high body which has a convex dorsal profile.

Utilisation

Plectorhinchus gibbosus is caught using handlines and spear with the catch being sold fresh, although a small amount is preserved by salting. It is a highly regarded food fish.

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