Marine Life

Oriental sweetlips

Kandu guruva

Plectorhinchus vittatus

Plectorhinchus vittatus is the most commonly seen Sweetlips in the Maldivian reefs, and adults are not shy of divers, though juveniles tend to hide among coral branches. This species was previously known as P. orientalis, and juveniles are often exported as aquarium fish.

Details

§ 01

size: Max. 55 cm
color: Varies greatly with age. Juveniles with connected black blotches that gradually break up in adults into horizontal bands which unite at tip of snout. Pectoral fins black in juveniles, becoming uniform yellow in adults. Median fins with black margin. Tail spotted with age.
order: Perciformes
family: Haemulidae
image url: https://assets.explore.mv/fishes/plectorhinchus-vittatus.png
habitat and biology: This species inhabits coral reefs and inshore rocky reefs down to a depth of 42 meters. Adults tend to congregate in groups, and they feed on benthic crustaceans and molluscs. Juveniles are particularly active.
distinctive characters: The dorsal fin has 13 spines and 17-20 rays, with the second to the fifth spines being the longest and subequal, while the anal fin has 3 spines and 7-8 rays. Additionally, the lips become fleshy and swollen with age.