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Whitebarred rubberlips (Plectorhinchus playfairi) — Haemulidae

Whitebarred rubberlips

Plectorhinchus playfairi
Family: Haemulidae

The Whitebarred rubberlips (Plectorhinchus playfairi) is a saltwater fish of the family Haemulidae that grows up to 90 cm.

Length
90 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
0.0–80.0 m
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Commonly eaten

Description

Playfair's rubberlips is a sweetlips (Haemulidae) from shallow rocky and reef water of the western Indian Ocean around southern Africa. The species grows to about 50 cm and has a deep, powerful, grey-brown body with thick, fleshy lips. As a nocturnal bottom-oriented fish it searches over sand and reef for worms, crustaceans and small fish and shelters under overhangs by day. It is a valued sport and food fish. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Whitebarred rubberlips?

The Whitebarred rubberlips has a torpedo-shaped body and is mainly brown.

Where does the Whitebarred rubberlips live?

The Whitebarred rubberlips lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Whitebarred rubberlips get?

The Whitebarred rubberlips grows to a maximum of about 90 cm.

Is the Whitebarred rubberlips dangerous to humans?

No, the Whitebarred rubberlips is harmless to humans.

Is the Whitebarred rubberlips edible?

Yes, the Whitebarred rubberlips is commonly eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Playfairs zoetlip sourced
English name
Whitebarred rubberlips sourced
Scientific name
Plectorhinchus playfairi
Family
Haemulidae
Other names
Whitebarred rubberlip; Whitebarred rubberlips verified

Appearance

Size class
Extra large verified
Max length (cm)
90.0 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Tail shape
Straight inferred
Lips
Thick / fleshy sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
0.0 verified
Max depth (m)
80.0 verified
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Nocturnal sourced
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten inferred
Fishing method
Bodemvissen met natuurlijk aas (worm, garnaal of vis) op of vlak boven de bodem. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Plectorhinchus

More from the family Haemulidae

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