Haemulon

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Haemulon
Blue Stripe Grunt. Haemulon sciurus.jpg
Haemulon sciurus
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Family: Haemulidae
Subfamily: Haemulinae
Genus: Haemulon
G. Cuvier, 1829
Type species
Haemulon elegans
G. Cuvier, 1829
Synonyms
  • Anarmostus Scudder, 1863
  • BathystomaScudder, 1863
  • BrachygenysPoey, 1868
  • DiabasisDesmarest, 1823
  • InermiaPoey, 1860
  • Isaciops Miles, 1953
  • LythrulonD. S. Jordan & Swain, 1884
  • OrthostoechusT. N. Gill, 1862
Haemulon striatum.jpg
Haemulon striatum
Haemulon carbonarium.jpg
Haemulon carbonarium
Haemulon flavolineatum French grunt.jpg
Haemulon flavolineatum
Spanish Grunt Davy Crocker Reef 20230715.jpg
Haemulon macrostomum

Haemulon is a genus of fish in the grunt family known as the scaled-fin grunts. Most are found in the western Atlantic Ocean, with a few species known from the eastern Pacific Ocean. [1] This genus is considered to be one of the most important fish groups of the coral reefs of Brazil due to its commercial value and crucial ecological role. [2]

Contents

Species

The 23 or so species in this genus include: [3]

Description

Fish of this genus are oblong in shape and have large mouths. [4] They have scales over the rays of their second dorsal and anal fins, and the second anal spine is larger than the third. The inside of the mouth is usually bright red. [1] Juveniles of the genus look similar to each other, but the variation in the appearance of the adults is great. [5]

Diet

Some Haemulon species eat plankton in the open water, but most seek small prey on the seabed. [5] Fish of the grunt family are nocturnal feeders, venturing in schools from the cover of the reefs around sunset to find food. The schools disperse as individuals go hunting, and then reform as morning approaches and they prepare to return to the reef. [6]

Behaviour

Haemulon species are common members of shallow reef fish communities in their range. Their schools can have hundreds [7] or thousands [2] of fish, including adults and juveniles. Schools can be made up of several different Haemulon species; [7] for example, H. squamipinna and H. aurolineatum may associate with each other. [1] [7] Haemulon spp. have also been observed in schools with grunts of other genera, such as Anisotremus virginicus , and fish of different families, such as the snapper Lutjanus alexandrei , the goatfish Pseudupeneus maculatus , and the jack Carangoides bartholomaei . [7] Other fish tend to join large Haemulon schools for protection. Sometimes they join a school simply for the protection offered by a large mass of fish, but some species engage in protective mimicry in a school. Unrelated fish that resemble Haemulon in color, size, and shape join the school to hide from predators, even mimicking the swimming style, movements, and postures of the Haemulon. Fish that do this include the goatfish Mulloidichthys martinicus , the parrotfish Sparisoma axillare , and the herring Harengula clupeola . [7] M. martinicus, in particular, stays with groups of its own species while sheltering in the reefs, but when it enters the open water column and becomes visible to predators, it tends to join schools of Haemulon chrysargyreum , which it closely resembles. It assumes the posture of the grunts and blends into the group. [8]

Despite their general preference for close association with other fish, some Haemulon spp. can be territorial and display aggressive behaviors. Larger individuals are more likely to act aggressively, and this behavior is more common at certain times of the day, such as early morning. [2]

Like other members of their family, these fish produce a grunting sound by grinding their pharyngeal teeth, the behavior which inspired their common name. [5]

The spawning behavior of these fish has not been observed. [5]

Systematics

Haemulon is split by some authorities into two genera, these workers suggest that Haemulon sensu lato is polyphyletic because molecular studies showed that H. chrysargyreum clustered with Xenistius californiensis , rendering Haemulon as polyphyletic if Xenistius was not included. [9] The genus Brachygenys Poey, 1868 was revived to include Xenistius californiensis, Haemulon chrysargyreum, Xenistius peruanus and Xenocys jessiae . [10]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Goatfish</span> Family of fishes

The goatfishes are fish of the family Mullidae, the only family in the order Mulliformes. The family is also sometimes referred to as the red mullets, which also refers more narrowly to the genus Mullus.

<i>Chromis</i> Genus of fishes

Chromis is a genus of fish in the family Pomacentridae. While the term damselfish describes a group of marine fish including more than one genus, most damselfish are in the genus Chromis. These fish are popular aquarium pets due to their small size, tolerance for poor water quality, and bright colors, though their lifespans tend to be shorter than other fish.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Haemulidae</span> Family of fishes

Haemulidae is a family of fishes in the order Perciformes known commonly as grunts. It is made up of the two subfamilies Haemulinae (grunters) and Plectorhynchinae (sweetlips), which in turn contain about 133 species in 19 genera. These fish are found in tropical fresh, brackish, and salt waters around the world. They are bottom-feeding predators, and named for the ability of Haemulinae to produce sound by grinding their teeth. They also engage in mutualistic relationship with cleaner gobies of genus Elacatinus, allowing them to feed on ectoparasites on their bodies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Caesar grunt</span> Species of fish

The Caesar grunt, also known as the black grunt, blacktail grunt, or redmouth grunt is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a grunt in the family Haemulidae. It is native to the western Atlantic Ocean

<i>Plectorhinchus</i> Genus of fishes

Plectorhinchus is a genus of marine ray-finned fish, sweetlips belonging to the subfamily Plectorhinchinae which is one of two subfamilies in the family Haemulidae which also includes the grunts. The species in this genus are found in fresh, brackish, and salt waters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Common bluestripe snapper</span> Species of fish

The common bluestripe snapper, bluestripe snapper, bluebanded snapper, bluestripe sea perch, fourline snapper, blue-line snapper or moonlighter, is a species of snapper belonging to the family Lutjanidae. It is native to the Indian Ocean from the coast of Africa and the Red Sea to the central Pacific Ocean. It is commercially important and sought as a game fish. It can also be found in the aquarium trade.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pharyngeal teeth</span> Teeth in the throat a number of other fish species

Pharyngeal teeth are teeth in the pharyngeal arch of the throat of cyprinids, suckers, and a number of other fish species otherwise lacking teeth.

<i>Mulloidichthys</i> Genus of fishes

Mulloidichthys is a genus of fish in the family Mullidae native to coral and rocky reefs of the tropical Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Ocean.

<i>Haemulon vittatum</i> Species of fish

Haemulon vittatum, the boga, is an ocean-going species of grunt native to the western Atlantic Ocean. Bogas are also known as the snit in Jamaica, and bonnetmouth in the Bahamas. It was first described by Cuban zoologist Felipe Poey. This species used to be classified as Inermia vittata, but genetic data revealed that it belongs to the genus Haemulon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bluestriped grunt</span> Species of fish

The bluestriped grunt, also known as the boar grunt, golden grunt, humpback grunt, redmouth grunt, or yellow grunt, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a grunt belonging to the family Haemulidae. It is found in the western Atlantic Ocean.

<i>Haemulon flavolineatum</i> Species of fish

Haemulon flavolineatum, the French grunt, banana grunt, gold laced grunt, open-mouthed grunt, redmouth grunt, or yellow grunt, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a grunt belonging to the family Haemulidae. It is native to the western Atlantic Ocean.

<i>Haemulon plumierii</i> Species of fish

Haemulon plumierii, the white grunt or common grunt, is a species of ray-finned fish in the family Haemulidae native to the western Atlantic Ocean. It grows to a length of about 30 cm (12 in) and is a silvery-cream color, with narrow yellow and blue longitudinal stripes, but can modify its color somewhat to match its surroundings. It is closely related to the bluestriped grunt and the French grunt, and often schools with these species. It feeds on shrimp, other crustaceans, annelids, and mollusks, and is preyed on by larger piscivores such as barracuda and shark. It is sometimes caught by anglers as a game fish, and its flaky white flesh can be eaten. It is also a popular aquarium fish.

<i>Pomadasys</i> Genus of fishes

Pomadasys is a genus of grunts native to the waters of the eastern Atlantic Ocean and through the Indian Ocean to the Pacific coast of the Americas. The name of this genus is a compound of poma meaning "lid" or "covering" and dasys meaning "rough", a reference to the serrated preopercle.

<i>Xenistius</i> Genus of fishes

Xenistius is a genus of grunts native to the eastern Pacific Ocean.

<i>Haemulon chrysargyreum</i> Species of fish

Haemulon chrysargyreum, the smallmouth grunt, bronze grunt, or yellowstripe grunt, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a grunt belonging to the family Haemulidae. It is found in the western Atlantic Ocean.

<i>Haemulon scudderii</i> Species of fish

Haemulon scudderii, the grey grunt, golden-eye grunt, or mojarra grunt, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a grunt belonging to the family Haemulidae. It is found in the eastern Pacific Ocean.

<i>Haemulon album</i> Species of fish

Haemulon album, the white margate, grey grunt, grunt, Margaret fish, Margaret grunt, margate, margate fish, ronco blanco, viuda, white grunt, white pogret, or yellow grunt is a species of ray-finned fish, a large grunt belonging to the family Haemulidae. It is native to the western Atlantic Ocean.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Haemulinae</span> Subfamily of fishes

Haemulinae is a subfamily of the Haemulidae and consists of the genera of that family which are regarded as being of New World origin, although they are now widespread. The subfamily is distinguished from the Plectorhynchinae by having a short dorsal fin which contains 13-16 soft rays, as opposed to the long dorsal fin with 17-26 soft rays of the subfamily Plectorhynchinae.

<i>Haemulon squamipinna</i> Species of fish

Haemulon squamipinna is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a grunt belonging to the family Haemulidae. It is found in the western Atlantic Ocean where it is endemic to Brazil, here it is locally known as Xira Amarela, and occurs along the coast from the states of Ceará to Bahia. It grows to about 20 cm (7.9 in) in length, feeds at night on benthic invertebrates, and is important for subsistence fisheries along the northeastern Brazilian coast. It forms large schools that can number in the thousands, sometimes with Haemulon aurolineatum. Juveniles are often found in shallow reefs at depths of 2 to 5 m while adults are found in deeper areas at 5 to 30 m.

<i>Brachygenys</i> Genus of fishes

Brachygenys is a genus of marine ray-finned fish, grunts belonging to the family Haemulidae. The species within the genus are found in the eastern Pacific Ocean and western Atlantic Ocean. It is not yet recognised by Fishbase but is by the Catalog of Fishes.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Rocha, L. A. and I. L. Rosa. (1999). New species of Haemulon (Teleostei: Haemulidae) from the northeastern Brazilian coast. Archived 2014-01-07 at the Wayback Machine Copeia (1999)2 447-52.
  2. 1 2 3 Pereira, P. H. C. and B. P. Ferreira. (2012). Agonistic behaviour among Haemulon spp. (Actinopterygii: Haemulidae) and other coral reef fishes in northeastern Brazil. Cybium 36(2) 361-67.
  3. ↑ Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds. Haemulon: Species. FishBase. 2017.
  4. ↑ Hong, S. L. (1977). Review of eastern Pacific Haemulon with notes on juvenile pigmentation. Copeia 1977(3) 493-501.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Rocha, L. A., et al. (2008). Historical biogeography and speciation in the reef fish genus Haemulon (Teleostei: Haemulidae). Archived 2013-12-17 at the Wayback Machine Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 48 918-28.
  6. ↑ Burke, N. C. (1995). Nocturnal foraging habitats of French and bluestriped grunts, Haemulon flavolineatum and H. sciurus, at Tobacco Caye, Belize. Environmental Biology of Fishes 42 365-74.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 Pereira, P. H. C., et al. (2011). Mixed-species schooling behavior and protective mimicry involving coral reef fish from the genus Haemulon (Haemulidae). Neotropical Ichthyology 9(4) 741-46.
  8. ↑ Krajewski, J. P., et al. (2004). The association of the goatfish Mulloidichthys martinicus with the grunt Haemulon chrysargyreum: An example of protective mimicry. Archived 2015-09-23 at the Wayback Machine Biota Neotropica 4(2) 1-4.
  9. ↑ Tavera, J.J.P; A.A., Balart; E.F.; et al. (2012). "Molecular phylogeny of grunts (Teleostei, Haemulidae), with an emphasis on the ecology, evolution, and speciation history of New World species". BMC Evolutionary Biology. 12 (57): 57. Bibcode:2012BMCEE..12...57T. doi: 10.1186/1471-2148-12-57 . PMC   3472276 . PMID   22537107.
  10. ↑ Paolo Parenti (2019). "An annotated checklist of the fishes of the family Haemulidae (Teleostei: Perciformes)". Iranian Journal of Ichthyology. 6 (3): 150–196.
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