Haemulopsis leuciscus (Günther, 1864)
Raucous grunt
photo by Robertson, R.

Family:  Haemulidae (Grunts), subfamily: Haemulinae
Max. size:  45.7 cm TL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 590.0 g
Environment:  demersal; brackish; marine
Distribution:  Eastern Pacific: Gulf of California to Peru.
Diagnosis:  Body robust, somewhat compressed, and not very deep (depth contained 2.8 to 3.0 times in standard length); mouth small and terminal, its posterior end located at the same level as the anterior rim of the eye; profile of head convex; first gill arch with 18 to 23 gill rakers; dorsal fin deeply notched, with 12 spines and 14 to 15 soft rays (XII, 14-15); second anal spine stronger and but shorter than third; third anal spine, when bent, reaching or surpassing base of last anal ray;; back brownish gray; belly lighter; axilla of pectoral fins and upper edge of operculum black (Ref. 55763)
Biology:  Inhabits coastal seas on sandy or muddy bottoms (Ref. 11482). Found in estuaries (Ref. 9114). Feeds on polychaetes, copepods and amphipods (Ref. 50313). Marketed fresh (Ref. 9114).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 25 May 2007 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


Source and more info: www.fishbase.org. For personal, classroom, and other internal use only. Not for publication.