SEA Undersea

There are around 35 species of sweetlips. These fish have big fleshy lips and tend to live on coral reefs in small groups or pairs. They will often associate with other fishes of similar species, and it is not unusual to see several species of sweetlips all swimming together. They are usually seen in clusters in nooks and crannies or under overhangs. Not until night falls do they venture from their shelters to seek out their bottom-dwelling invertebrate prey, such as bristleworms or shrimps and small crabs.

Diagonal-Banded Sweetlips
Diagonal-Banded Sweetlips
Harlequin Sweetlips
Harlequin Sweetlips
Oriental Sweetlips
Oriental Sweetlips
Ribboned Sweetlips
Ribboned Sweetlips

Ribboned Sweetlips

Also called: Yellow-Ribboned Sweetlips

Scientific name: Plectorhinchus polytaenia

This large group, seen in the daytime, is rather rare. You usually see these fish in smaller groups around table corals and other shelters.

Oriental Sweetlips

Scientific name: Plectorhinchus orientalis

These colorful characters can often be found schooling with Diagonal-Banded Sweetlips and Ribboned Sweetlips. I have seen them in large schools around Komodo.

Harlequin Sweetlips

Scientific name: Plectorhinchus chaetodontoides

Juveniles of this species apparently imitate flatworms. They're also brown with white spots, which reverse to white/yellow with black spots in adult-hood.

Diagonal-Banded Sweetlips

Also called: Yellow-Banded Sweetlips

Scientific name: Plectorhinchus lineatus

This one was photographed in a small group on the Liberty Wreck off Tulamben, which is the typical way to find them.