Haemulon melanurum
Cottonwick
Collection Details
Specimens
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Records
Taxonomic Hierarchy
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned Fishes)
Perciformes (Perciformes, Also Called the Acanthopteri)
Haemulidae (Grunts)
Haemulon
Haemulon melanurum (Cottonwick)
Description
This species account was compiled from
Composite (multiple sources) (McEachran, J.D. and J.D. Fechhelm. Fishes of the Gulf of Mexico. University of Texas Press, Austin.)
and processed using AI-assisted text extraction.
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Characters
Dense covering of scales on rayed sections of dorsal and anal fins; broad dark stripe along dorsal margin of body to lower tip of tail; second stripe diverging from first at caudal peduncle and running to upper tip of tail; dorsal profile of head slightly arched; nares close set; anterior naris oval with flap along posterior margin; posterior naris small and oval; jaw teeth villiform, arranged in a patch on either side of symphysis, enlarged, slender, and slightly recurved along margin of jaws; preoperculum finely serrated, serrae increasing in size toward slightly produced angle in adults; gill rakers on first arch 21 to 23; head length 35%–39% SL; snout length 12%–15% SL; upper jaw length 16%–18% SL; pre-dorsal-fin length 38%–43% SL; body depth 33%–37% SL; pectoral fin rays 16 to 18; dorsal fin spines 12, rays 15 or 16 (rarely 17); anal fin rays 8 (rarely 7 or 9); scales above pectoral fin base not elongated vertically; scale rows between first dorsal fin spine and lateral line 13; scale rows between lateral line and first anal fin spine 6; scales encircling caudal peduncle 23 to 25 (rarely 22); lateral line scales 49 to 51
Pale or silvery with many straight stripes; head silvery white; sides of body marked by narrow yellow stripes; inside of mouth red; juveniles have three dark stripes on body and an elongate spot on base of caudal fin, lateral stripe continuous with spot; elongate caudal spot may appear as two partially divided spots
Distribution
Western Atlantic from North Carolina and Bermuda to Brazil, including the Gulf of Mexico, the Bahamas, and the Antilles
Reported from offshore reefs and banks, including the Flower Garden Banks off eastern Texas
Habitat Associations
Between shore and about 30 m depth; associated with clear water along outer reefs and sea-grass beds
Outer reefs and sea-grass beds
Biology
Maximum known size about 435 mm TL
Inhabits clear inshore and offshore reefs (Ref. 9710) and adjacent grass beds, often in schools (Ref. 3798). Feeds on crustaceans (Ref. 3798). Marketed fresh (Ref. 3798).
Reproductive mode: dioecism; fertilization: external; mating system: monogamy; nonguarders (open water/substratum egg scatterers); parental care: none. Oviparous, distinct pairing during breeding (Ref. 205).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC), assessed 2011-03-01. Resilience: Medium (K=0.3).
Commercial or Environmental Importance
Fisheries: minor commercial; aquarium: public aquariums.
References
Longley and Hildebrand 1941
Courtenay 1961
Böhlke and Chaplin 1968
Randall 1968a
Randall 1996
Bright and Cashman 1974
Sonnier et al. 1976
Hoese and Moore 1977
Hoese and Moore 1998
Lindeman 1986
Robins and Ray 1986
Cervigón 1993a
Cervigón 1993b
Schaldach et al. 1997
Smith 1997
Pattengill 1998
Smith-Vaniz et al. 1999
Lindeman and Toxey 2002
Breder, C.M. and D.E. Rosen (1966) Modes of reproduction in fishes. T.F.H. Publications, Neptune City, New Jersey. 941 p.
Robins, C.R. and G.C. Ray (1986) A field guide to Atlantic coast fishes of North America. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, U.S.A. 354 p.
Cervigón, F. (1993) Los peces marinos de Venezuela. Volume 2. Fundación Científica Los Roques, Caracas,Venezuela. 497 p.
Lieske, E. and R. Myers (1994) Collins Pocket Guide. Coral reef fishes. Indo-Pacific & Caribbean including the Red Sea. Haper Collins Publishers, 400 p.
Randall, J.E. (1996) Caribbean reef fishes. Third Edition - revised and enlarged. T.F.H. Publications, Inc. Ltd., Hong Kong. 3nd ed. 368 p.
Smith, C.L. (1997) National Audubon Society field guide to tropical marine fishes of the Caribbean, the Gulf of Mexico, Florida, the Bahamas, and Bermuda. Alfred A. Knopf, Inc., New York. 720 p.
Gómez-Canchong, P., L. Manjarrés M., L.O. Duarte and J. Altamar (2004) Atlas pesquero del area norte del Mar Caribe de Colombia. Universidad del Magadalena, Santa Marta. 230 p.
Comments On Haemulon melanurum