French grunt facts for kids
Quick facts for kids French grunt |
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The French grunt (scientific name: Haemulon flavolineatum) is a type of ray-finned fish. It belongs to the grunt family. You can find this fish in the western Atlantic Ocean. It is also known by other names like banana grunt, gold laced grunt, or yellow grunt.
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What Does the French Grunt Look Like?
The French grunt has a body shaped like an almond. It is flat on the sides and has a rounded snout. Its mouth is small to medium-sized with thick lips. Inside, it has narrow rows of teeth. The outer teeth are cone-shaped.
This fish has one long dorsal fin on its back. It has 12 stiff spines and 14 to 15 soft rays. The anal fin on its belly has 3 spines and 8 soft rays.
The French grunt's body can be whitish, bluish, or yellowish. It has three bright yellow or orange stripes along its sides, above its lateral line. Below this line, it has more yellow stripes that go diagonally. Its head has yellow spots underneath, and the inside of its mouth is red. All its fins are yellow, and its belly is white. This fish can grow up to 30 centimeters (about 12 inches) long. However, most are about 17 centimeters (about 7 inches) long.
Where Do French Grunts Live?
French grunts live in the western Atlantic Ocean. They are found from South Carolina and Bermuda in the north. Their range goes along the coast of the United States to the Bahamas. They also live in the southern Gulf of Mexico, including the Florida Keys. You can find them from Tuxpan in Mexico, east along the northern Yucatan Peninsula, to northwestern Cuba. They also live south into the Caribbean Sea, reaching as far as Trinidad.
Life and Habits of the French Grunt
French grunts live in waters from 1 to 60 meters (about 3 to 200 feet) deep. They often gather in huge groups, sometimes with thousands of fish. These large groups can be found over rocky areas and coral reefs. They might hide under ledges or near elkhorn coral.
Young French grunts often hide in large numbers. They like to stay in sea grass beds in calm bays, lagoons, and other coastal waters.
What Do They Eat?
French grunts are mostly active at night. They come out to find food on the ocean floor. They eat small creatures like molluscs (like snails), crustaceans (like crabs), and polychaetes (a type of worm). They search for food over sandy areas and among sea-grass beds.
Parasites of the French Grunt
French grunts can have many different parasites. One interesting parasite is Gnathia marleyi. This is a tiny crustacean. It was named after the famous reggae singer, Bob Marley.
Naming the French Grunt
The French grunt was first officially described in 1823. It was named Diabasis flavolineatus by a French zoologist named Anselme Gaëtan Desmarest. The name flavolineatum comes from two Latin words. Flavo means "yellow," and lineatum means "lined." This describes the yellow stripes on the fish's sides.
How People Use French Grunts
French grunts are very common in the areas where they live. People catch them using traps and large nets called seines. The amount of French grunts caught is not always recorded separately from other fish. Their meat is usually sold fresh to eat. In places like Barbados, they are one of the most common fish caught by local fishers.
You don't often see French grunts in home aquariums. However, they are more common in large public aquarium displays, where many people can see them.
