Diagramma pictum

Family: Haemulidae

Common Name: Yelllowbanded sweetlips / Lined sweetlips

Scientific Name : Diagramma pictum
Maximum length : 50cm
IUCN Red List Status : Not Evaluated

Adult plain silvery grey. Subadult silvery grey with orange to brownish spots on head, body and median fins. Large juvenile with yellowish head and series of black anad white alternating stripes on body, and dorsal and caudal fins. Small juvenile with large black spinous dorsal fin, white to yellow stripe from top of eye to upper caudal fin; broad black median stripe on body extending onto caudal fin, and yellow to white lower head and belly.

Typically found solitary or in groups, often in turbid water. on open muddy, sandy or silty substrates in protected bays or estuaries, around rock outcrops, wreckage and debris 5-40m. Also in shallow coastal areas and coral reefs. Juveniles are found in weedy areas. Feeds on benthic invertebrates and fishes. Reportedly ciguatoxic in some areas. Marketed fresh and frozen. Five subspecies recognized across Indo-Pacific region including D. p. labiosum and D. p. pictum. Distinct pairing during breeding

Johnson et al. (2001) recognise five subspecies across the Indo-Pacific region including D. p. labiosum (northern New Guinea and southern Papua New Guinea) and D. p. pictum (East Indian region to New Caledonia and north to Japan)

From southwest Sumatra to Timor Sea. Also recorded from Raja Ampat Islands, Manado and vicinity and Togean and Banggai Islands.

Photo 1 : Photo courtesy Brian Mayes
Photo 2 : Photo courtesy Bernard DUPONT
Photo 3 : Photo courtesy Optical Allusion

Referemce : - http://www.fishbase.org/summary/4465
- Allen, G R, Erdmannn, M V., 2012. Reef Fishes of the East Indies : Volume II. Singapore : Tropical Reef Research