ANIMAL SPECIES:Slate Sweetlips, Diagramma labiosum (Macleay, 1883)
Adult Slate Sweetlips are uniform grey, sometimes with scattered botches. Juveniles have a thick, black mid-lateral stripe and a black stripe along the upper back and dorsal fin. As juveniles grow, spots appear between the stripes.
Identification
Adult Slate Sweetlips are uniform grey, sometimes with scattered botches.
Juveniles have a thick, black mid-lateral stripe and a black stripe along the upper back and dorsal fin. As juveniles grow, spots appear between the stripes.
Size range
The Slate Sweetlips grows to 1 m in length.Distribution
The species occurs in subtropical marine waters of Australia and southern Papua New Guinea.
In Australia it is known from southern Western Australia, around the tropical north of the country, and south to southern New South Wales.
Habitat
It lives in shallow estuaries and lagoons.
Behaviour and adaptations
Other behaviours and adaptations
It is sometimes seen in large schools.
Classification
- Species:
- labiosum
- Genus:
- Diagramma
- Family:
- Haemulidae
- Class:
- Actinopterygii
- Subphylum:
- Vertebrata
- Phylum:
- Chordata
- Kingdom:
- Animalia
References
- Allen, G.R. 1997. Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and South-east Asia. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 292.
- Kuiter, R.H. 2000. Coastal Fishes of South-eastern Australia. Gary Allen. Pp. 437.
- Kuiter, R.H. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. New Holland. Pp. 433.
- Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 251. (as D.pictum)
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A Slate Sweetlips at Yongala Wreck View full size
Erik Schlögl
© Erik Schlögl
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