Haemulon sciurus

Haemulon sciurus - Bluestriped Grunt
Haemulon sciurus – Bluestriped Grunt
FamilyScientific NameAuthorYearCommon Name
HaemulidaeHaemulon sciurus(Shaw)1803Bluestriped Grunt

All Haemulon: Dorsal-fin spines 12 or more. No enlarged spines on preopercle. Soft portions of dorsal and anal fins densely scaled nearly to margins. In fresh specimens, inner lining of mouth typically red

Haemulon sciurus

Unique Characteristics: Many blue stripes along length of upper and lower body. Portion of dorsal and caudal fins black. Soft portions of dorsal and anal fins densely scaled nearly to margins. In fresh specimens, inner lining of mouth typically red. Dorsal-fin spines 12. Approximately equal-sized scales above and below lateral line. Many blue stripes along length of upper and lower body. Portion of dorsal and caudal fins black.

Similar Species:

Margate, Haemulon album. Dorsal-fin spines 12. No yellow stripes, or faint and not extending through length of caudal peduncle. Dorsal-fin soft rays 16 or 17; anal-fin soft rays 7 or 8. Stripes, when present on head, fewer than 5 and not blue.

Haemulon album, Margate. Source: FAO 2002.
Haemulon album, Margate. Source: FAO 2002.

Tomtate, Haemulon aurolineatum. Dorsal-fin spines 13 or 14. Base of caudal fin usually with dark brown or black spot. Scale rows below lateral line typically parallel to long axis of body.

Haemulon aurolineatum
Tomtate – Haemulon aurolineatum

Cottonwick, Haemulon melanurum. Dorsal-fin spines 12. Black stripe extends along upper body from below anterior dorsal fin to both lobes of caudal fin; less than 8 faint yellow stripes.

Haemulon melanurum
Cottonwick – Haemulon melanurum

White Grunt, Haemulon plumierii. Dorsal-fin spines 12. Scales above anterior lateral line approximately twice the size of those below. Dark stripes on head, only faint stripes on body. Dorsal and caudal fins brown-grey to pale yellow.

Haemulon plumierii
White Grunt – Haemulon plumierii

Striped Grunt, Haemulon striatum. Dorsal-fin spines 13 or 14. Base of caudal fin without dark spot. Scale rows below lateral line typically oblique to long axis of body. Normally five yellow to brown longitudinal stripes on body, none ventrally. Dorsal-fin soft rays typically 13 or 14, range of 12-15; anal-fin soft rays typically 8, range of 7-9.

Haemulon striatum
Striped Grunt – Haemulon striatum

Boga, Haemulon vittatum. Small (to 25 cm), with elongate, fusiform body and highly protractile upper jaw. The open mouth can be extended greatly forward and downward. Dorsal fins not widely separated by a deep notch; the second spines connected by an interradial membrane. First dorsal fin with 14-17 spines and second dorsal fin with 2 spines and 10 or 9 soft rays, respectively. Anal fin with 3 spines and 8 or 10 soft rays. Caudal fin deeply forked. Teeth absent on jaws, vomer, and palatine. Two enlarged chin pores.

Haemulon vittatum, Boga.
Haemulon vittatum, Boga.

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