Ribbon Sweetlips

Plectorhinchus polytaenia

Also known as: Painted Sweetlip, Ribbon Sweetlip Bream, Ribboned Sweetlips, Sweetlips, Yellowribbon Sweetlips

ALSO KNOWN AS

Painted Sweetlip
Ribbon Sweetlip Bream
Ribboned Sweetlips
Sweetlips
Yellowribbon Sweetlips

LCLeast ConcernIUCN Red List, 2019

LIFE STAGE

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Ribbon Sweetlips adult, photographed at Lembeh, Indonesia — @fishx6 · Lembeh, Indonesia · August 20081 / 9

Showing details for the adult stage. Switch stages to see how it differs.

Overview

Found singly, or in small schools, during the day close to caves and ledges, dispersing at night foraging for food, over current prone, coastal and seaward reefs, rich with invertebrate growth.

In some areas of the world 'Grunts' are better known as 'Sweetlips' distinguished from other species by their very large rubbery lips.
'Grunts'because they "grunt," the grunting sound is produced by their flat teeth plates rubbing together and this is amplified by their air bladders.
Found either singly or in schools hovering or motionless over the reef during the day, becoming nocturnal predators.

How to identify

COLOURS

Pattern: white stripes
Behaviour: hovering makes sounds nocturnal schooling shelters in caves solitary

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Habitat & where to find it

Where the adult stage lives, and where its photos were taken.

Range · Indo-West Pacific
Country only · 9

LIVES IN

Found singly, or in small schools, during the day close to caves and ledges, dispersing at night foraging for food, over current prone, coastal and seaward reefs, rich with invertebrate growth.

RANGE