Relevant synonyms None Misidentification None Meristic formula D, XIII + 19-20; A, III + 6-7; P, 16; V, I + 5; LL, 55-60; GR, 26-27

SHORT DESCRIPTION Body moderately deep and compressed. Head profile convex. Small mouth with pronounced lips. Jaws reach back to vertical of front of eye. Six pores on median pit. A continuous dorsal fin, its 3-6 spines are the longest and its posterior part round. Anal fin small with short base. Caudal fin rounded in young and truncated in adults. Pectoral and pelvic fins pointed, none reaching the anus. color : Body grey to light yellow. Body, dorsal and caudal fins covered with black dots. The dots on the dorsal fin and the back are the largest becoming gradually smaller on the flank. Belly white. Pectoral and pelvic fins yellow. Lips distinctly yellow in adults. Young specimens are dark with longitudinal white stripes. size : Size: 10-35 cm (max 50 cm) DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS The color pattern distinguishes this species from all Mediterranean fish species. BIOLOGY / ECOLOGY Feeding mainly on benthic invertebrates. Eggs and larvae planktonic. Can produce sounds by grinding its pharyngeal teeth. habitat : Open areas next to rocky substrate or coral reef.

1st MEDITERRANEAN RECORD Thasos Island, northern Aegean Sea (2015) (Corsini-Foka and Sarlis 2016). DISTRIBUTION Worldwide : Red Sea, western Indian Ocean from the Persian (Arabian) Gulf to South Africa Mediterranean : Northern Aegean Sea ESTABLISHMENT SUCCESS Very peculiar record of a young specimen found in the stomach of a squid.   MODE OF INTRODUCTION Unknown IMPORTANCE TO HUMANS None in the Mediterranean. Commercially important throughout its native distribution.

KEY REFERENCES ‏Corsini-Foka, M., and Sarlis, N. (2016). A strange occurrence of Plectorhinchus gaterinus (Actinopterygii: Perciformes: Haemulidae) in the Thracian Sea (eastern Mediterranean). Acta Ichthyoligica et Piscatoria 46(1), 37-41. ‏McKey, R.J. 1984 Haemulidae. In: Fischer and Bianchi (eds.) Species identification sheets for fishery purposes. Western Indian Ocean (Fishing Area 51. FAO, Rome. Pag. Var.) FEEDBACK / COMMENTS TO AUTHORS

Last update of the species sheet : January 2017 © ciesm 2001