Spanish Grunt

The Spanish Grunt has a silvery-brown body with several narrow black stripes running horizontally, along with a single thick black stripe that extends from the eye to the base of the tail. A yellowish-gold stripe runs along its back just below the dorsal fin, and there is a distinct yellowish spot at the base of the tail. The fins are translucent or dusky, with prominent yellow edges.

This Grunt is not often seen on Bonaire and is usually found alone on the reef, where it tends to stay within a small area rather than migrating far. It feeds at night on sea urchins and crustaceans, which it likely finds on the seafloor. During breeding, it forms distinct 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.