Bluestriped Grunt

Bluestriped Grunt, Juvenile, ID Not Sure

ID Not Sure: The identification is a best guess but lacks enough confidence or supporting evidence.

Telling the many species apart during their early stages is difficult. Smaller individuals often look very similar, and variation within each species can make them resemble other species. Based on the size of the tail spot and the gap between the stripe and the spot most closely match a Bluestriped Grunt (Haemulon sciurus). However, this is not a firm identification.

The Bluestriped Grunt has a yellow-gold body covered with blue stripes running horizontally along its sides and head. Its anal, pectoral, and pelvic fins are yellow, while its tail and dorsal fins are dark with pale, light-colored edges.

This Grunt is somewhat cautious and can be found in shallow waters, seagrass beds, and on the reef. It can be seen alone or in groups, sometimes mixing with other species of Grunts. It feeds at night on crustaceans and small creatures on the seafloor. Individuals sometimes push each other mouth-to-mouth, possibly as part of territorial or social ranking. It also makes a grunting sound by grinding its teeth together, a behavior common among many species in the Grunt family.