African Striped Grunt
Parapristipoma octolineatum
Bluestriped Grunt
Haemulon sciurus
About
The bluestriped grunt is a vividly striped reef fish common on Caribbean reefs and mangroves. It commonly reaches about 25 cm, with the largest recorded at 46 cm and 750 g.
Also known as: blue striped grunt, boar grunt, golden grunt, redmouth grunt, yellow grunt, humpback grunt
- Length
- 25 cm · max 46 cm
- Weight
- max 750 g
- Depth
- 0–20 m
How to tell it apart
Confused with other similarly striped grunts on the reef. Look for the arched stripe that curves below the eye, a fixed marking that stays the same regardless of the fish's mood or lighting.
Appearance
This fish has a deep, almond-shaped, yellow body marked with thin blue stripes running its length. A distinctive arched stripe curves below each eye. The spiny part of the dorsal fin is yellow, while the rear dorsal and tail fins are dark, the anal fin dusky yellow, and the belly fins whitish. The inside of its mouth is bright red.
Habitat
Bluestriped grunt live on reefs, in mangroves, and over sea-grass beds in the western Atlantic and Caribbean, usually down to about 20 m. Adults gather in small schools over coral and rocky bottom near drop-offs, while juveniles crowd into shallow turtle-grass beds.
Did you know?
Its species name, sciurus, is Latin for 'squirrel.' English zoologist George Shaw gave it that name in 1803 because the fish was once called a squirrelfish, likely for the grunting sound it makes.
Log it in Into the Blue
Describe what you saw and we name it, then keep every species you find in your Oceandex.
