Haemulon sciurus
Ecological Descriptors
|
Habitat |
Size (cm) |
Diet |
Behaviour |
Sex |
Co, R, Man |
45 |
Mol, Cru, (Pisc) Noct |
Sh |
F |
Description:
Adult: Sloping head with a relatively large mouth, a tapering body and a notched tail. Body with blue horizontal stripes over a yellow-gold background. Tail and rear end of dorsal fin dark with yellow margins (cf Caesar Grunt, H. carbonarium), other fins yellow.
Juvenile: Spot at fin base, body with yellow and dark longitudinal striped.
Ecology
Drift in small to midsize schools, down to 30m (100ft). Adults are found in small or large groups over coral and rocky reefs, as well as mangroves and seagrass beds. Large adult members of this species are more abundant on reef/boulder habitat than on seagrass beds. It is found in small groups over coral and rocky reefs and drop-offs. Schools serve as a security measure against potential predators such as sharks and to increase reproductive opportunities. Adults make nocturnal migrations into adjacent seagrass habitat. Adults also exhibit very high site fidelity to diurnal resting sites on the reef, with little movement during diurnal periods. Known to face and push each other with open mouths. This behaviour is believed to be linked with courtship or territory defence.
Adults feed on crustaceans, bivalves and occasionally on small fishes, as well as foraminifera and gastropods. Maximum total length is approximately 50cm and the maximum published weight is 750g. Maximum recorded size in seagrass habitat matches the smallest average sized individuals of within mangrove shorelines, which strongly suggests that mangroves are utilized as a secondary or sequential habitat by members of this species.
Life Cycle:
There is evidence that it forms spawning aggregations, occurring January to April in the Caribbean Sea. Juveniles settle into seagrass beds at sizes ranging from 9-17mm in length. Pelagic eggs laid that hatch into pelagic larvae. Life span between 10-12 years.
Bluestriped Grunt Juvenile
Bluestriped Grunt
Bluestriped Grunt
(C) Alex Reeffishgeek
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