Description

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

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.
They feed on benthic crustaceans.
Length - 33cm
Depth - 3-50m
Widespread Western Atlantic, Caribbean

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. Ref: https://www.fishbase.se/summary/1138