Taxonomy
The French grunt was originally described as Diabasis flavolineatum by Desmarest in 1823. The name was later changed to the currently valid
scientific name of Haemulon flavolineatum (Desmarest 1823). The common name of grunt originates from the ability of fish within this family to
produce sound by grinding their teeth.
Common Names
English language common names include French grunt, banana grunt, gold laced grunt, open-mouthed grunt, redmouth grunt, and yellow grunt.
Other common names include biquara (Portuguese), bocayate de piedra (Spanish), boquinegro (Spanish), cambuba (Portuguese), capiśma (Portuguese),
casaca (Portuguese), condenado (Spanish), corcoroca (Portuguese), corocoro armarillo (Spanish), coroncoro (Spanish), corrocona (Wayu),
crocro gueule-rouge (French), Fransk gryntefisk (Danish), gelber grunzerfisch (German), goibi (Portugese), gorette (French), gorette jaune
(French), hemulon ronko (Portuguese), korkó (Papiamento), robčki (Papiamento), ronco (Spanish), ronco amarillo (Spanish), ronco condenado (Spanish),
roodbekje (Dutch), and rooibekkie (Papiamento).
Geographical Distribution
The French grunt is found in the western Atlantic Ocean off Bermuda, South Carolina, and the northern Gulf of Mexico to Brazil including the coasts of Central America and throughout the West Indies.
World distribution map for the French grunt
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French grunts schooling on a coral reef off the coast of Florida
© Joe Marino
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Habitat
This grunt occurs in large schools, that can number in the thousands, over rocky substrate, coral reefs, under ledges or close to elkhorn coral. Depths range from shallow water to 197 feet (60m).
Juveniles often are abundant in the protection of seagrass beds in bays, lagoons, and other coastal waters.
Biology
French grunt
© Doug Perrine
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- · Distinctive Features
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The French grunt is oblong in shape with a compressed body and a blunt head. The mouth is small to moderate in size, often with thick lips. The pectoral fins are moderately long.
The pelvic fins are located below the base of the pectoral fins. It is the only grunt that has enlarged scales below the lateral line.
French grunt coloration - detail of stripes on the body
© Richard Bejarano
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- · Coloration
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This species is white to bluish or yellowish with bright yellow to orange stripes, the first three of which are straight. The remaining stripes are set below
the lateral line in a diagonal arrangement. Yellow spots are present on the bottom of the head. The inside of the mouth is red. The fins are yellow in color.
The ventral surface of this fish is creamy to white.
- · Dentition
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The teeth, arranged in a narrow band in each jaw, are conical in shape with an enlarged outer series but lacking canines. There are no teeth on the roof of the mouth.
French grunts reach a maximum of 11.8 inches total length
© John Soward
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- ·Size, Age, and Growth
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The maximum reported length of the French grunt is 11.8 inches (30.0 cm) total length (TL) although it is more commonly observed at lengths
of 6.7 inches (17.0 cm) TL. Reproductive maturity is reached at lengths of 6.3 inches (16.0 cm) as documented in female specimens.
- · Food Habits
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The French grunt feeds primarily on small crustaceans, polychaetes, and mollusks. It is a nocturnal species, scavenging the sand flats and
seagrass beds in close proximity to coral reefs during the night.
Juvenile French grunt
© Barbara Shively
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- · Reproduction
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Little information is available on the reproduction of this species. However, it is known that the eggs are pelagic and the larval stage lasts
approximately 15 days.
Black groupers prey on the French grunt
© Judy Townsend
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- · Predators
- Documented predators of the French grunt include larger reef fish including the trumpetfish (Aulostomus maculatus),
black grouper (Mycteroperca bonaci), tiger grouper (Mycteroperca tigris),
yellowfin grouper (Mycteroperca venenosa), and Nassau grouper
(Epinephelus striatus).
- · Parasites
- There have been many documented parasites of the French grunt including the following digenetic trematodes:
Apocreadium foliatum, Apopodocotyle oscitans, Brachyphallus parvus, Derogenes crassus, Diplangus paxillus, Genolopa ampullaceal,
Homalometron dowgialloi, Infundibulostomum spinatum, Leurodera decora, Postmonorchis orthopristis, Proctotrema parvum,
Proctotrema truncatum, Pseudoplagioporus brevivitelus, and Stephanostomum sentum.
Importance to Humans
Although considered too small to be of commercial value, the French grunt is an excellent panfish. This grunt
is caught with traps and seines throughout its range and is marketed fresh. It is also a common display fish in public aquariums.
Conservation Status
The French grunt has not been evaluated by the World Conservation Union (IUCN). The IUCN is a global union of states,
governmental agencies, and non-governmental organizations in a partnership that assesses the conservation status of species.
Prepared by:
Cathleen Bester
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