Haemulon scudderii

Haemulon scudderii, commonly called grey grunt or mojarra grunt, is a species of marine fish in the family Haemulidae.

Haemulon scudderii
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Family: Haemulidae
Genus: Haemulon
Species:
H. scudderii
Binomial name
Haemulon scudderii
(Gill, 1862)

Description

The grey grunt is a medium-sized fish that can reach a maximum length of 35 cm, but the ones usually observed are rather 30 cm.[2] It has a laterally compressed body with a forked caudal fin. Its background color is silver with small dark spots on every scale giving the impression that they are drawing lines following the scale series.[3] The rim of the eye and the outer edge of the gill opening are bronze yellow. All the fins are dark grey.

Distribution & habitat

The grey grunt is widespread throughout the eastern Ocean Pacific from Mexico to Ecuador including the Galapagos.[4]

This grunt likes exposed areas of coral reefs and rocky coasts between 3 and 40 meters deep.[5]

Biology

The grey grunt live during daytime in school near reefs or rocks and disperse at night to feed at the open sea. Their diet consists mainly of plankton but also small crustaceans and other mollusks.[6]

References
  1. Allen, G. & Robertson, R. 2010. Haemulon scudderii. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2014.3. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 19 January 2015.
  2. McKay, R.J. and M. Schneider, 1995. Haemulidae. Burros, corocoros, chulas, gallinazos, roncos. p. 1136-1173. In W. Fischer, F. Krupp, W. Schneider, C. Sommer, K.E. Carpenter and V. Niem (eds.) Guia FAO para Identification de Especies para lo Fines de la Pesca. Pacifico Centro-Oriental. 3 Vols. FAO, Rome.
  3. Jiménez Prado, P. and P. Béarez, 2004. Peces Marinos del Ecuador continental. Tomo 2: Guía de Especies / Marine fishes of continental Ecuador. Volume 2: Species Guide. SIMBIOE/NAZCA/IFEA.
  4. McKay, R.J. and M. Schneider, 1995. Haemulidae. Burros, corocoros, chulas, gallinazos, roncos. p. 1136-1173. In W. Fischer, F. Krupp, W. Schneider, C. Sommer, K.E. Carpenter and V. Niem (eds.) Guia FAO para Identification de Especies para lo Fines de la Pesca. Pacifico Centro-Oriental. 3 Vols. FAO, Rome.
  5. Humann, P. and N. Deloach, 1993. Reef fish identification. Galápagos. New World Publications, Inc., Florida. 267 p.
  6. McKay, R.J. and M. Schneider, 1995. Haemulidae. Burros, corocoros, chulas, gallinazos, roncos. p. 1136-1173. In W. Fischer, F. Krupp, W. Schneider, C. Sommer, K.E. Carpenter and V. Niem (eds.) Guia FAO para Identification de Especies para lo Fines de la Pesca. Pacifico Centro-Oriental. 3 Vols. FAO, Rome.


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