Teleostei (teleosts) >
Eupercaria/misc (Various families in series Eupercaria) >
Haemulidae (Grunts) > Haemulinae
Etymology: Haemulon: Greek, haimaleos = bloody (Ref. 45335).
More on author: Gill.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; reef-associated. Tropical; 38°N - 4°N
Eastern Pacific: Baja California, Mexico to Colombia.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 30.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 9114); common length : 25.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 9114); max. published weight: 557.00 g (Ref. 40926)
Body oblong, compressed, and deep (depth contained 2.2 to 2.7 times in standard length); mouth large and terminal, its posterior end located at the same level as the anterior edge of the pupil; first gill arch with 22 to 39 gill rakers; dorsal fin notched, with 12 to 14 spines and 14 to 17 soft rays (XII-XIV, 14-17); second anal spine slightly longer and stronger than third; scale series above lateral line is parallel to it; body dark brown; each scale bearing a pearly blue spot, the spots appearing to form lines following the scale series; fins yellowish; caudal peduncle with a large spot (Ref. 55763).
Body shape (shape guide): short and / or deep.
Found in schools around coastal reefs during the day, dispersing over sandy bottoms at night (Ref. 9114). Marketed fresh (Ref. 9114).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Oviparous, distinct pairing during breeding (Ref. 205).
McKay, R.J. and M. Schneider, 1995. Haemulidae. Burros, corocoros, chulas, gallinazos, roncos. p. 1136-1173. In W. Fischer, F. Krupp, W. Schneider, C. Sommer, K.E. Carpenter and V. Niem (eds.) Guia FAO para Identification de Especies para lo Fines de la Pesca. Pacifico Centro-Oriental. 3 Vols. FAO, Rome. (Ref. 9114)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: minor commercial
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