Striking Sweetlips in the Maldives (KSLOF) -

Sweetlips

January 7, 2016

Written by Andrew Bruckner, PhD

Expedition Log: Maldives – Day 16

The Sweetlips are a family of fish easily identified by their big, fleshy lips. The family is a large one with 120 species found around the world in tropical and temperate seas.

Juvenile sweetlips generally look quite different from the adults, and often live solitary lives on shallower reef sections. During our fish surveys on the house reef of Gili Lankanfushi here in the Maldives, this particular individual caught our attention.

Juvenile Indian Ocean oriental sweetlips, Plectorhinchus vittatus.

This species of sweetlips is native to the Indian Ocean and the western Pacific Ocean and juveniles display a striking contrast of black, white, yellow and red. As the fish develops, these patterns and colors will change into the horizontal black and white striped body of the adult.

Adult Indian Ocean oriental sweetlips, Plectorhinchus vittatus.

Many species of sweetlips go through these dramatic color changes during growth. Juveniles are often boldly spotted or striped, whilst adults are usually plain with spots or have more and thinner lines. Some juveniles even have especially long tails and swim by undulating their body sideways, giving the impression of a swimming flatworm.

Juvenile Harlequin Sweetlips, Plectorhinchus chaetodonoides.

Photos by Stefan Andrews.

From Mangrove Mud to Meaningful Work: Desta’s J.A.M.I.N. Journey

Some students I remember for their grades, their quick answers, or a moment that made the whole class laugh. Others I remember for the way they stepped into the mangroves.

Desta was the kind of student who thrived outdoors. While some students hesitated at the edge of the mud, he walked right in. And when he inevitably got stuck — because everyone does — he didn’t get frustrated. He laughed. Covered in mud, holding mangrove propagules in his hands, he embraced the experience fully.

Even then, it was clear that he was connecting with the environment in a way that went beyond the lesson plan…

From Students to Stewards: A Full-Circle Moment for J.A.M.I.N.

There are certain faces you never forget.

Over the years, hundreds of students have stepped into mangrove forests with us through the Jamaica Awareness of Mangroves in Nature (J.A.M.I.N.) program. I may not always remember every name, but I remember the expressions — the hesitation before stepping into thick mud, the laughter when someone loses a shoe, the look of surprise when they catch that unmistakable sulfur smell rising from the mangrove soil…

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From Mangrove Mud to Meaningful Work: Desta’s J.A.M.I.N. Journey

From Students to Stewards: A Full-Circle Moment for J.A.M.I.N.