Haemulon sciurus

Haemulon sciurus (Shaw, 1803)
Bluestriped grunt

photo by Valkenier - Pope, C.

Family:	Haemulidae (Grunts), subfamily: Haemulinae
Max. size:	46 cm TL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 750.0 g; max. reported age: 12 years
Environment:	reef-associated; marine; depth range 0 - 30 m
Distribution:	Western Atlantic: Florida, USA to Brazil, including the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea.
Diagnosis:	Dorsal spines (total): 12-12; Dorsal soft rays (total): 16-17; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 9-9. Head and body yellow with narrow blue stripes continuing along length of body; stripe under eye with distinctive arch. Spiny dorsal fin yellow; soft dorsal and caudal fins blackish; anal fin dusky yellow (Ref. 26938). Scale rows below lateral line slightly oblique, yellow with blue stripes (Ref. 13442).
Biology:	Found in small groups over coral and rocky reefs and drop-offs (Ref. 9710). Juveniles are abundant in Thalassia beds (Ref. 5217). Feeds on crustaceans, bivalves, and occasionally on small fishes. Marketed fresh.
IUCN Red List Status:	Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 10 October 2015 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:	reports of ciguatera poisoning

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