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Cottonwick grunt

Haemulon melanurum

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Fun Facts

They can make a grunt or thump sound by rubbing together special sets of teeth. These sounds are made louder by their swim bladder, their gas-filled organ that helps them float or sink as needed

Species Type:

Fishes

Common Name(s):

Cottonwick grunt

Size:

On average cottonwick grunts grow to 10 inches (25 centimeters) in length.

Diet:

These small fish eat sea stars, urchins, shrimp, crabs and sea cucumbers.

Range & Habitat:

Commonly found in reefs, rocky and sandy bottom habitats in the Caribbean Sea, western Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico.

Details:

Cottonwick grunts have silvery gray bodies and a black stripe on their upper back running from their head to their tail, along with yellow horizontal stripes all over their body. Young cottonwick grunts have four black stripes running horizontally on their bodies.