Common names from other countries
Teleostei (teleosts) >
Eupercaria/misc (Various families in series Eupercaria) >
Haemulidae (Grunts) > Haemulinae
Etymology: Pomadasys: Greek, poma, -atos = cover, operculum + Greek, dasys = with hair (Ref. 45335).
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; brackish; demersal; depth range 10 - 100 m (Ref. 6946). Subtropical; 47°N - 14°S, 27°W - 14°E
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 53.5 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 104752); common length : 25.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 6946); max. reported age: 7 years (Ref. 52657)
Dorsal spines (total): 12; Dorsal soft rays (total): 15 - 16; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 11 - 13; Vertebrae: 27. Diagnosis: body oblong; snout short, about equal to eye diameter; mouth small, maxilla not reaching anterior edge of eye; 2 anterior pores on chin, followed by a median pit; third anal fin spine equal or longer than second; 11-13 anal soft rays; caudal fin forked; scales slightly ctenoid; 7-8 scale rows between lateral line and middle of spinous dorsal-fin base (Ref. 57395).
Coloration: back dark brown, silvery white on belly; sometimes large dark spots on back and flanks, but never small spots or bands; a black spot at upper angle of opercle (Ref. 57395).
Body shape (shape guide): fusiform / normal; Cross section: compressed.
Found over hard bottom (Ref. 2683, 57395) and sand (Ref. 57395). Enters estuaries and lagoons at sexual maturation (Ref. 57395). Feeds on bottom and near-bottom invertebrates (Ref. 5535).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Oviparous, distinct pairing during breeding (Ref. 205).
Roux, C., 1990. Haemulidae. p. 783-788. In J.C. Quero, J.C. Hureau, C. Karrer, A. Post and L. Saldanha (eds.) Check-list of the fishes of the eastern tropical Atlantic (CLOFETA). JNICT, Lisbon; SEI, Paris; and UNESCO, Paris. Vol. 2. (Ref. 6946)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: minor commercial
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