The Gold Spotted Sweetlips (Plectorhinchus flavomaculatus) belongs to the Sweetlips family Haemulidae. This species has also been commonly referred to as the ‘Netted Morwong’. This species is distributed throughout the waters of the Indian and western Pacific Oceans. It is found in the warmer tropical waters of Australia however it has been recorded as far south as Moruya in southern New South Wales and Perth in Western Australia.
Juveniles have a gold body with blue stripes which turn into spots as the fish becomes older. Adults have a blue body with many yellow spots along the side and yellow stripes around the face. Juveniles can be found inshore in amongst shallow seagrass meadows whilst the adults prefer to inhabitat protected coastal reefs to depths of 30 metres. The Gold Spotted Sweetlips (Plectorhinchus flavomaculatus grows to a maximum length of approximately 60cm.
