Barred Rubberlip – Facts and Photographs

Barred rubberlip (Plectorhinchus plagiodesmus) is also known as the Redlined Sweetlips

The Barred rubberlip (Plectorhinchus plagiodesmus) is also known as the Yellow Mouth Sweetlips. They are a species of grunt, closely related to the snappers. They have thick fleshy lips hence the name rubberlips or sweetlips. They may also grind their teeth together when caught, emitting a grunting sound. The Barred rubberlip is a not common fish on the east African coast.

Barred rubberlip (Plectorhinchus plagiodesmus) is also known as the Redlined Sweetlips

APPEARANCE

Barred rubberlips have a grey body with thin reddish black bars running down the body.  The fins are all grey colored. There are yellow lines on the front and back of the gill plate and their is a yellow patch on the face. They have large fleshy lips and when full grown the yellow upper lip is much larger than the white lower lip. They grow up to 90 cm and the images in the post are of full grown specimens. They are easy to distinguish because of their bright yellow lips.

Barred rubberlip (Plectorhinchus plagiodesmus) is also known as the Redlined Sweetlips

BARRED RUBERLIPS IN THE WILD

The Barred Rubberlip are shy fish and during the day are usually seen in crevices or caves or under overhangs from about 12 meters down to 30 meters. They are seen in pairs or solitary. Full grown adults are usually in pairs and younger fish are often singular.

Barred rubberlip (Plectorhinchus plagiodesmus) is also known as the Redlined Sweetlips

HABITAT

The Barred Rubberlip is found only in the western Indian ocean from Somalia south to South Africa including Madagascar.

Plectorhinchus plagiodesmus 3

DIET

The Barred Rubberlip are nocturnal feeders , feeding mainly on sand living crustaceans and worms. Prawns are on their eating list and they are thought to blow these out the sand with jets of water.

Plectorhinchus plagiodesmus 2

REPRODUCTION

Very little is known of Barred Rubberlips breeding habits. They are thought to mate above the reef with the eggs dropping into the water table and drifting down onto the reef.

Plectorhinchus plagiodesmus 1

COMMERCIAL EXPLOITATION

The Barred Rubberlips is reputed to be good eating and is occasionally netted by fishermen.

BARRED RUBERLIPS CLASSIFICATION

Kingdom:    Animalia
Phylum:       Chordata
Class:           Actinopterygii
Order:          Perciformes
Family:         Haemulidae
Genus:          Plectorhinchus
Species:        P. plagiodesmus

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