Blackspotted rubberlip
More information about Blackspotted rubberlip
Plectorhinchus gaterinus (Forsskål, 1775)
The blackspotted rubberlip (Plectorhinchus gaterinus) or locally know as ‘Hilali’ is one of four commercially important fish species belonging to the family of the Haemulidae (Grunts, Sweetlips or Rubberlips) of which the painted sweetlips (Diagramma pictum) or ‘Farsh’ is the most popular species. The Haemulidae family is commercially important, realizing a catch of some 730,000 kg, equal to 12% of the total catch, in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi in 2009.
P. gaterinus attains a length of 35 cm, although they may grow out to a maximum of 50 cm. They occur in coastal reefs, sand banks and near estuaries, forming often large groups under ledges or along coral slopes by day. The distribution of P. gaterinus is the Western Indian Ocean spanning from the Arabian Gulf to South Africa and eastward to Sri Lanka.
P. gaterinusis carnivorous with its diet ranging from crustaceans to small finfish.
Classified as Not Evaluated (NE) on the IUCN Red List.
