Cottonwick

Haemulon melanurum

Also known as: Blacktail Grunt, Caesar Grunt, Comical Grunt, Cottonwick Grunt, Dogfish, French Margate Fish, Sweetlips

ALSO KNOWN AS

Blacktail Grunt
Caesar Grunt
Comical Grunt
Cottonwick Grunt
Dogfish
French Margate Fish
Sweetlips

LCLeast ConcernIUCN Red List, 2015

Add a photo

Cottonwick adult, photographed at Bournemouth Aquarium, United Kingdom — @fishx6 · Bournemouth Aquarium, United Kingdom · August 20091 / 4

Overview

Found singly or in schools, during the day close to sheltered weedy areas, dispersing at night to hunt for food, over clear in-shore and off-shore reefs.

In some areas of the world 'Grunts' are better known as 'Sweetlips' distinguished from other species by their very large rubbery lips.
'Grunts'because they "grunt," the grunting sound is produced by their flat teeth plates rubbing together and this is amplified by their air bladders.
Found either singly or in schools hovering or motionless over the reef during the day, becoming nocturnal predators.

How to identify

COLOURS

Pattern: stripes
Head & Mouth: eye stripe
Behaviour: hovering makes sounds nocturnal schooling solitary

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

Habitat & where to find it

Range · Western Atlantic, Caribbean
Country only · 4

LIVES IN

Found singly or in schools, during the day close to sheltered weedy areas, dispersing at night to hunt for food, over clear in-shore and off-shore reefs.

RANGE