Giant Thicklip

Plectorhinchus albovittatus, commonly referred to as the two-striped sweetlips or giant sweetlips, represents a marine ray-finned fish within the sweetlips category of the subfamily Plectorhinundefinede, belonging to the grunt family Haemulidae. This species inhabits the 🌊 Indian Ocean and the western 🌊 Pacific Ocean, typically residing at depths ranging from 2 to 50 meters.

The physical characteristics of Plectorhinchus albovittatus include notably fleshy lips that grow more pronounced with age. The fish's chin is marked by six pores, although it lacks a central pit. The dorsal fin is equipped with 12 to 13 spines—most commonly 13—and 16 to 20 soft rays, while the anal fin features 3 spines and 7 soft rays. Juveniles display a brown coloration, lighter on the lower body, with three slender white bands: one running down the snout, another extending from the nape to the tail, and a third positioned on the upper portion of the dorsal fin. The spined section of the dorsal fin is pale brown or cream, outlined by a thin dark brown margin, whereas the soft-rayed section is dark brown with a defining pale horizontal stripe and a thinner upper stripe, extending to the dorsal fin's rear margin. The caudal fin presents a dark brown hue below and white above, marked by darker tips and an oblique dark brown band on its upper lobe. The anal fin appears dark brown with paler rear rays, while the pectoral fins range from hyaline to very light brown, and the pelvic fins exhibit sooty brown tips. Adults are predominantly grey to grey-brown on the upper body and flanks, with blackish pectoral, pelvic, and anal fins. The caudal fin's lower lobe and upper tip are black, alongside the black front portion of the soft-rayed dorsal fin, and the spined section is dusky to black. The lower lip and chin are white, while the abdomen is silvery grey to white. This species can reach a maximum standard length of 100 cm (39 in).

Geographically, Plectorhinchus albovittatus is distributed across the Indo-West Pacific, spanning from East Africa and the 🌊 Red Sea to Polynesia, reaching north to 🇯🇵 Japan and southward to New South Wales, 🇦🇺 Australia.

Plectorhinchus albovittatus primarily inhabits clear lagoons and seaward reefs, with juveniles occasionally found in brackish water or shallow, turbid coastal areas. Adults typically exhibit solitary behavior, though occasional pairings and presence on deep reefs or near sea mounts are noted. In regions such as Palau, this species is known to aggregate for spawning annually around the new moon in April or May. This oviparous species spawns in distinct pairs and is known to seek shelter within the deeper sections of surge channels through the reef during daylight hours.

First formally described by German naturalist Eduard Rüppell in 1838 as Diagramma albovittatum, the species was attributed the type locality of Massawa, 🇪🇷 Eritrea. The species epithet "albovittatus" translates to "white striped," referencing the distinctive juvenile patterning.

Plectorhinchus albovittatus is commonly harvested using handlines and spearfishing techniques. Larger specimens are sold fresh, while a minor portion of the catch is preserved through salting.