Yellowbanded sweetlips (Plectorhinchus lineatus)

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 lineatus · Authority: (Linnaeus, 1758) · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 273489.

Synonyms and superseded combinations recorded for this taxon: Diagramma goldmanni Bleeker, 1853; Diagramma haematochir Bleeker, 1854; Diagramma radja Bleeker, 1853; Gaterin gaterinoides Smith, 1962; Lutjanus pentagramma Lacepède, 1802; Perca lineata Linnaeus, 1758; Plectorhinchus gaterinoides (Smith, 1962); Plectorhinchus goldmani (Bleeker, 1853); Plectorhinchus goldmanni (Bleeker, 1853); Plectorhinchus lineatum (Linnaeus, 1758); Plectorhynchus gaterinoïdes (Smith, 1962); Plectorhynchus goldmani (Bleeker, 1853); Plectorhynchus goldmanni (Bleeker, 1853); Plectorhynchus lineatus (Linnaeus, 1758).

Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=273489 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Biology and life history (FishBase)

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

Maximum length: 72 cm · Depth range: 1–50 m · Habitat zone: reef-associated · Body shape: fusiform / normal · Vulnerability index: 36.8 of 100 · Fishery importance: minor commercial · Aquarium trade: commercial.

FishBase notes: Found in deep inner to outer reef habitats (Ref. 48635). Occurs singly or in aggregations along coral slopes of clear lagoon and seaward reefs. Juveniles solitary on shallow protected reefs (Ref. 48635). Generally nocturnal, feeding on benthic invertebrates in open sand flats and seagrass beds at night and conspicuously rests during the day (Ref. 9710, 90102).

At Palau, it aggregates to spawn around new moon (Ref. 37816). Taken by handline and spear. Marketed fresh, a small quantity is salted (Ref. 47695). Maximum depth reported taken from Ref. 128797.

Source: FishBase species summary (SpecCode 6940) — https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Plectorhinchus-lineatus.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)

1,507 georeferenced occurrence records for Plectorhinchus lineatus are published through GBIF from 20 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 183 distinct locations from a sample of 1,507 records, omitting 33 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: Indonesia (414); Australia (386); New Caledonia (347); Philippines (87); Micronesia (Federated States of) (69).

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

Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 2382650) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=2382650&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=273489 (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 lineatus (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 68377082) — https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/68377082/0; GBIF IUCN Red List category endpoint (taxonKey 2382650) — https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/2382650/iucnRedListCategory. Accessed 2026-09-25.

Description and natural history (Wikipedia)

Plectorhinchus lineatus has fleshy lips which become moderately swollen with age, it has 6 pores on its chin but has no median pit. The dorsal fin contains 12-13 spines and 18-19 soft rays while the anal fin has 3 spines and 7-8 soft rays. The overall colour is light grey which becomes white on the belly. It has prominent yellow lips and the upper part of the body is marked with a large number of broken, diagonal black stripes.

The fins are yellow, the caudal, anal and dorsal fins have black spots and the pelvic fins have red spots at their bases. The juveniles have a few horizontal to slightly angled dark brown bands, these break up as the fish grows until the colour of the body looks dark chocolate brown above, broken up by a web of thin white lines running over the back. with continued growth the wide brown bars on the lower flanks break up into spots, which shrink farther as the fish grows. This species attains a maximum total length of 72 cm.

Distribution

Plectorhinchus lineatus is found in the eastern Indian Ocean and western Pacific Ocean. Its range extends from Indonesia east to Philippines and New Ireland, north to the Ryukyu Islands and Ogasawara Islands, south to New Caledonia and Australia. In Australia it is found at Scott Reef in Western Australia, Ashmore Reef in the Timor Sea and along the Great Barrier Reef as far south as the Capricorn Islands and the Gold Coast Seaway in Queensland.

Habitat and biology

Plectorhinchus lineatus occurs in deep waters, at depths between 1 and 35 m, in both the inner and the outer reefs. Here it may be encountered either singly or in groups along coral slopes in clear water. The juveniles are solitary and are found on shallow, sheltered reefs.

Typically nocturnal, they forage on open areas of sand and in beds of sea grass for benthic invertebrates during the night and resting during the day. Spawning aggregations have been noted off Palau around the new moon, this oviparous species forms pairs to spawn. During the day they can often be found resting near coral brommies, columnar outcrops of coral which are often exposed at low tide.

Systematics

Plectorhinchus lineatus was first formally described in 1758 by Linnaeus in the 10th edition of the Systema Naturae, he gave it the name Perca lineata. Its specific name lineatus means "lined", presumably referring to many dark bars on the body, horizontal on juveniles and subadults, diagonal on adults.

Utilisation

Plectorhinchus lineatus is caught using handlines and spear with the catch being sold fresh, although a small amount is preserved by salting.

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