Indian Ocean Oriental Sweetlips

Plectorhinchus vittatus  

Habitat & Distribution :  Indo-West Pacific Ocean 

Diet : Small fish & invertebrae 

Size : 72 cm 

Lifespan : 15 years

Description

They have a pale greyish-white body with 6–12 broad dark brown or black horizontal stripes that connect over the snout. Their forehead, snout, and fins are bright yellow. 

Behavior

They are generally docile, often hovering in small groups under rocky ledges by day, while juveniles are solitary and mimic poisonous flatworms with dramatic fin movements 

Reproduction

They are pelagic spawners, with pairs often engaging in a "corkscrew" motion up into the water column to release eggs and sperm 

Communication & Perception

The Indian Ocean oriental sweetlips communicates and interacts with its environment primarily through auditory signals and social schooling behaviors. They are known for making audible sounds, leading to their nickname as "grunts" or "growlers" 

Predator(s)

Reef sharks, groupers, barracuda, moray eels