WHATSTHATFISH
Bony fish

Spanish Grunt

Haemulon macrostomum

Also known as: Dogfish, Grey Grunt, Sow Grunt, Streaked Grunt, Striped Grunt, Sweetlips, Thicklip Grunt

LCLeast ConcernIUCN Red List, 2015
Adult
@JarJar · Cahuita, Costa Rica · October 20151 / 1
01

Overview

Found in dense schools, during the day close to shelter, dispersing at night hunting for food, over clear water 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.

02

How to identify

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Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Western Atlantic, Caribbean
  • Country only · 1
LIVES IN

Found in dense schools, during the day close to shelter, dispersing at night hunting for food, over clear water reefs.

04

Adult photos 1

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Discussion

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    ALL STAGES
    FOR THE MARINE-BIOLOGY CURIOUS

    Deep dive

    Taxonomy

    1. kingdomAnimalia
    2. phylumChordata
    3. classTeleostei
    4. orderEupercaria incertae sedis
    5. familyHaemulidae
    6. genusHaemulon
    7. speciesHaemulon macrostomum Günther, 1859

    SourcesWoRMSFishBase

    06

    More in the family

    Grunts (Haemulidae)