Harlequin Sweetlips

Plectorhinchus chaetodonoides 

Habitat & Distribution :  Indo-West Pacific 

Diet : Crustaceans, bivalves, smaller fish 

Size : Up to 72 cm 

Lifespan : 10-15 years

Description

Juveniles are brownish with regular white spots and have a deeply forked tail with a rounded tip, white with large brown spots. As they mature, they become grayish with brown spots and a shallow forked tail. 

Behavior

They possess a dark brown body with large, irregular white spots, designed to further mimic the appearance of these poisonous creatures, deterring predators. 

Reproduction

They exhibit distinct pairing during breeding, often forming monogamous pairs. They are pelagic spawners 

Predator(s)

Reef sharks, lionfish, groupers, barracuda, moray eels