Goldenstriped Soapfish
Grammistes sexlineatus
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Actinopterygii
- Order
- Perciformes
- Family
- Grammistidae
- Genus
- Grammistes
- Species
- Grammistes sexlineatus
The goldenstriped soapfish (Grammistes sexlineatus) is a dark brown to black fish with bold yellow or white stripes running along its body. Juveniles have fewer stripes, and the stripes break up into dashes in large adults.
It grows to about 25-30 cm and hides in caves and crevices by day, hunting small fish and crustaceans at dusk and night. When stressed it releases a bitter, soapy mucus containing the toxin grammistin, which deters predators.
The goldenstriped soapfish is found across the Indo-Pacific, including the Philippines, where divers usually spot it peering out from holes and ledges on reefs.