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| fishes text index | photo index |
| Phylum Chordata > Subphylum Vertebrate > fishes > Family Haemulidae |
| Harlequin
sweetlips Plectorhinchus chaetodonoides Family Haemulidae updated Nov 11 Where seen? This delightfully cartoonish fish is sometimes seen on many of our shores. Juveniles are seen in weedy areas, near reefs and seagrasses. Adults are seen near reefs in schools. Features: Juveniles about 10cm are brown with large round black-ringed white spots and white edged fins and tail. The juvenile is usually solitary. When spotted, it swims head down in a typical 'drunken' dance, flip flopping rapidly from side to side. Small ones are said to mimick poisonous flatworms. Adults to about 60cm, as they grow up, the brown areas break up, black spots develop in the white areas, the spots becoming smaller with age. What does it eat? It eats small bottom-dwelling animals such as crustaceans, molluscs and other fishes. Human uses: The adult fish is eaten and small juveniles are harvested for the aquarium trade. Status and threats: This fish is not listed among the threatened animals of Singapore. However, like other creatures of the intertidal zone, it is affected by human activities such as reclamation and pollution. Over-collection can also have an impact on local populations. |
 Pulau Sekudu, Nov 11  |
 Chek Jawa, Dec 07 |
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| Pulau Hantu,
taken while diving Oct 11, from the Hantu
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