Grunts

[denise]

The 100+ species of grunts get their common name from the pig like grunts they produce from rubbing their throat teeth together!!

Overall they represent a large percentage of the biomass on coral reefs, there are more than 10 species alone in Floridian waters. These colorful fish drift by day in small schools over the reef, but at night they actively hunt for crabs, shrimp, clams and worms amongst sandy and coral areas.



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French Grunts, Haemulon flavolineatum, the most common grunt on coral reefs around Florida.
Photo by Nicole LaPointe

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Bluestriped grunt, Haemulon sciurus, Jupiter Beach

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Close up of a Bluestriped grunt, Pompano Beach

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School of cottonwicks, Haemulon melanurum, hunting over coral reef, Fort Lauderdale

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School of intermediate cottonwicks, Boynton Beach
Photo by Bob Rosell

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Close up of a Porkfish, Anisotremus virginicus, West Palm Beach

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Group of Porkfish at their cleaning station. Porkfish are known to eat parasites off larger fish, this is beneficial (symbiotic) relationship for both fish.

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Porkfish prefer to travel in groups, than alone.

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White Grunt, Haemulon plumierii, known for their unusual "kissing" behavior

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Smallmouth grunt, Haemulon chrysargyreum, and a Tomtate (bottom), Haemulon aurolineatum, below. Spotted at Lantana beach.

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School of Latin grunts, Haemulon steindachneri

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Spanish grunt, Haemulon macrostomum, Boynton Beach

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Spanish grunt, West Palm Beach
Photo by Robert Palmer
Spanish grunts like clear water, and drift alone, or in small groups, over quiet reefs. They are very common in the Florida Keys.


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Gray Snapper, Lutjanus griseus, especially fond of mangrove habitats

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Black Margate, Anisotremus surinamensis, West Palm Beach
Photo by Joe Stillman