Family: HAEMULIDAE, Grunt, Grunts, Porkfishes, Salemas

FAMILY HAEMULIDAE

GRUNTS, PORKFISHES, SALEMAS

Grunts are medium sized fishes (~ 20-75 cm) that have oblong, compressed bodies; a pair of conspicuous pores plus (in almost all genera) a central groove under the chin; mouth relatively small, often with thick lips, bands of jaw teeth that are small and conical (no canines), no teeth on the roof of the mouth; rear margin of bone under eye concealed by scales; a serrated preopercle; one opercular spine; a single dorsal fin with XII-XIV spines; moderately long pectorals; pelvics under the pectorals; anal fin III (2nd spine often large), 6-13; tail fin concave to forked; rough scales, over entire body and head except front of snout, lips and chin.

The grunts are a family of small to medium-sized fishes that occur worldwide in tropical and temperate seas. The group contains about 19 genera and approximately 137 species. A total of 26 species in 7 genera occur in the Greater Caribbean.