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Plectorhinchus vittatus
Juveniles are blotched (white and dark-brown color pattern), while adults are striped and have spotted fins. They feed on fish and benthic crustaceans.
Found singly or in small groups in caves, along inner reef drop-offs of coral reefs, lagoons and seaward reefs.
This fish was most probably sleeping -- photographed it during a night dive at Dayang Beach, Talikud Island, in about 9m of water. It measured around 8cm in length.
Spotted on May 26, 2012
Submitted on May 28, 2012
8 Comments
Thanks very much for your input, Xiaoxuan & Gerardo!
It may be a Dogfish Orientalis / Plectorhinchus lineatus, but i´m not sure definitely a Plectorhinchus sp. or Plectorhinchus vittatus or Plectorhinchus picus.
To me is one of this they all are very similar as juvenile.
Wow fantastic spotting great shots Blogie:)
The other possibility is a juvenile oriental sweetlips...
http://reefguide.org/orientalsweetlips.h...
Hi Xiaoxuan. Thanks for the suggestion, but are you certain it's the spotted sweetlips? The fish's shape is indeed that of the sweetlips, but the color pattern seems to be of a different species. I have 2 other spottings of the juvenile sweetlips here, and they both look different from this one...
It's a juvenile spotted sweetlips
Thanks, Maria and Chief RedEarth!
wonderful color pattern