Actinopterygii (Gigaclass) > Actinopteri (Class) > Teleostei (Subclass) > Acanthuriformes (Order) > Haemulidae (Family) > Plectorhinchinae (Subfamily) > Plectorhinchus (Genus)

Grosses lèvres, Gaterin à grandes lèvres, Giant sweetlips, Giant thicklip, Two-stripe sweetlips, Daidai-koshōdai, ダイダイコショウダイ, 哈氏胡椒鯛, 白带胡椒鲷,

Synonymes
Diagramma albovittatum (Rüppell, 1838)
Diagramma giganteum (Günther, 1879)
Diagramma obscurum (Günther, 1872)
Diagramma obscurus (Fourmanoir, 1957)
Gaterin albovittatus (Ruppell, 1838)
Gaterin harrawayi (Smith, 1952)
Leitectus harrawayi (Smith, 1952)
Plectorinchus albovittatus (Rüppell, 1838)

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Description
Dorsal spines (total): 12-13; Dorsal soft rays (total): 17-19; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 7; Pectoral fin rays: 17; Lateral-line scales: 54-60 tubed scales; Lateral scale series: ~85. Body depth: 2.5-3.0 in SL; Dorsal fin margin slightly notched before soft rays, longest ray longer than longest spine; Adults with 2nd spine of anal fin slender, subequal to or shorter than third spine. Chin with 6 pores but no median pit. Total gill rakers on first gill arch: 26-31 (6-9 on upper limb, 1 at corner, and 19-21 on lower limb); Caudal fin slightly emarginate; Lips of adults swollen. Max. length: 120.0 cm TL, commonly 80.0 cm TL. Depth range: 2 - 50 m.

Color
Juveniles: brown, paler below, with 3 narrow white bands on body descending down nape and snout; Spinous dorsal pale brown or cream, with a narrow dark brown edge, rayed dorsal fin dark brown with a whitish horizontal stripe and a narrower one above, both reaching posterior margin of fin, last 2 or 3 short rays white, with the posterior half ray usually dark brown; Caudal fin dark brown below, white above, with tips dark brown to black-brown and a dark brown bar diagonally across upper lobe; Anal fin dark brown, posterior rays light brown; Pectoral fins hyaline to very pale brown; Pelvic fins tipped with dusky brown.
Adults: grey to grey-brown with pectoral, pelvic, and anal fins blackish, lower lobe and upper tip of caudal fin black, anterior half of soft dorsal fin black, spinous dorsal fin dusky to black; Lower lip and chin white; Belly silvery grey to white.
 
Etymology
Plectorhinchus: from ancient Greek, pleko = I plait, braid twist, bend, turn + from Greek, rhynchos = one having a snout, bill, or beak. Referring to skin folds on snout folded into upper lip of Plectorhinchus chaetodonoides.
albovittatus: from ancient Greek, alphós = whiteness, white (properly without luster), dull white + from Latin vittātus = banded, having a fillet or chaplet. Referring to white-to-yellow stripes on body of juveniles.
Original description: Diagramma albovittatum Rüppell, 1838 - Type locality: Massawa, Eritrea, Red Sea.

Distribution
Red Sea; Indo-West Pacific: East Africa, Seychelles, Madagascar and Maldives east to Sri Lanka and India; Bali and eastern Kalimantan (Indonesia), east to Marshall Islands, Fiji and Tonga, north to southern Japan, south to Queensland (Australia) and New Caledonia.

Biology
Found in clear lagoon and seaward reefs. Juveniles in brackish habitats or shallow turbid coastal areas. Adults usually solitary, occasionally in pairs; On deep reefs or with sea mounts. Taken by handline and spear. Large fish are marketed fresh, a small quantity is salted.

Similar species
Plectorhinchus gibbosus (Lacepède, 1802) - Reported from New Caledonia - Link to the species (here).
Plectorhinchus lessonii (Cuvier, 1830) - Reported from New Caledonia - Link to the species (here). Juveniles are similar.

Last update: 1, April 2023