Sweetlips on a Reef

Synopsis

The Indian Ocean oriental sweetlips, or Plectorhinchus vittatus, is a species of fish found in the Indo-Pacific. They inhabit shallow, coastal coral reefs and lagoons, and can be found singly or in small aggregations. They tend to be nocturnal, foraging on small invertebrates such crustaceans, gastropods or annelids, as well as smaller fishes. As their name suggests, sweetlips possess fleshy lips which become greatly swollen as the fish age. As juveniles, their complexion consists of a black body with yellow-edged cream-coloured spots that are then traded as they mature for stripes, along with patches of yellow colouration on their face and fins.

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Credit

Images freely available on Open Planet

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Production Companies

Scarlet View Media

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Additional Credits

David Diley

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