Harlequin sweetlips

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Harlequin sweetlips

Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Family: Haemulidae
Genus: Plectorhinchus
Species: P. chaetodonoides
Binomial name
Plectorhinchus chaetodonoides
Lacepède, 1801
Juvenile harlequin sweetlips mimic the movement of poisonous flatworms.
Juvenile harlequin sweetlips mimic the movement of poisonous flatworms.

The harlequin sweetlips, Plectorhinchus chaetodonoides, a sweetlips of the family Haemulidae, is found in Indo-West Pacific oceans. Its length is up to 72 cm.

Juveniles are brown with large white blotches and mimic the movement of a poisonous flatworm for defence against predators. They gain more spots and the spots reverse from white to black as they age.

It inhabits coral reefs and feeds on crustaceans, mollusks and other fish.

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