Smallmouth Grunt

The Smallmouth Grunt has a relatively small mouth and a narrow, bluish-silver body with five or six horizontal yellow stripes running from its head to its deeply forked tail. All of its fins are largely yellow, except for the pectoral fins.

This Grunt is somewhat cautious and often seen in small schools on the reef, near ledges, wrecks, and in shallow waters. During the day, it often gathers in mixed-species schools, sometimes with other Grunt species or Yellow Goatfish. It feeds at night on small crustaceans and various other invertebrates, and is a common prey for larger predators. During breeding, it forms pairs and lays eggs that float in open water before hatching. It also makes a grunting sound by grinding its teeth together, a behavior common among many species in the Grunt family.