Common names from other countries
Teleostei (teleosts) >
Eupercaria/misc (Various families in series Eupercaria) >
Haemulidae (Grunts) > Plectorhinchinae
Etymology: Plectorhinchus: Greek, plektos = plaited + Greek, rhyngchos = snout (Ref. 45335).
More on author: Lacepède.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; brackish; reef-associated; depth range 1 - 30 m (Ref. 9710). Tropical; 31°N - 23°S, 57°E - 144°W
Indo_West Pacific: Maldives (Ref. 11303) and Cocos Islands (Ref. 9399); Sumatra to Fiji (Ref. 9710) and New Caledonia, north to Ryukyu Islands, south to Rowley Shoals.
Length at first maturity / Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?, range 40 - ? cm
Max length : 72.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 9710); common length : 60.0 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 37816); max. published weight: 7.0 kg (Ref. 9710)
Dorsal
spines
(total): 11 - 12;
Dorsal
soft rays
(total): 18-20;
Anal
spines: 3;
Anal
soft rays: 7 - 9. This species is distinguished by the following characters: chin with 6 pores, no median pit; gill rakers on first gill arch 9-12 + 1 + 27-32 = 36-43; D XII (rarely XI),18-20; longest dorsal-fin ray 16-25% of standard length, almost equal to length of soft dorsal-fin base in small specimens, more than 1/2 length of soft dorsal-fin base in adults; lips fleshy, moderately swollen with age; scales ctenoid (rough to touch); lateral line tubed scales about 52-59; body depth 2.4-2.5 in SL; caudal fin deeply forked with broadly rounded lobes in juveniles; only slightly forked to emarginate in adults. Colour of body with numerous dark brown spots, generally larger than pupil; pelvic fins spotted, darkening with age; juveniles brownish with large, well-defined creamy white blotches on body that include brown spots with age; colour gradually changing into a greyish background with large, deep brown spots (Ref. 47695, 90102).
Inhabits coral-rich areas of clear lagoon and seaward reefs. Adults are solitary, near and under ledges or caves by day. Juveniles are found among corals (Ref. 9710). Feeds on crustaceans, mollusks, and fishes at night. Juveniles are used in the aquarium industry (Ref. 9137). Small juveniles may mimic a toxic flatworm (Ref. 9710). Marketed fresh, a small quantity is salted. Large fish have coarse and dry flesh (Ref. 47695).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Oviparous, distinct pairing during breeding (Ref. 205).
Myers, R.F., 1991. Micronesian reef fishes. Second Ed. Coral Graphics, Barrigada, Guam. 298 p. (Ref. 1602)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435)
CITES (Ref. 128078)
Not Evaluated
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: minor commercial; aquarium: commercial
More information
ReferencesAquacultureAquaculture profileStrainsGeneticsElectrophoresesHeritabilityDiseasesProcessingMass conversion
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Estimates based on models
Preferred temperature (Ref.
115969): 25.5 - 29.3, mean 28.6 (based on 2654 cells).
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.01778 (0.01078 - 0.02935), b=2.97 (2.83 - 3.11), in cm Total Length, based on LWR estimates for this species & (Sub)family-body (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.8 ±0.60 se; based on food items.
Resilience (Ref.
120179): Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Moderate to high vulnerability (49 of 100).
