Haemulon carbonarium Poey, 1860
Caesar grunt
Haemulon carbonarium
photo by Randall, J.E.

Family:  Haemulidae (Grunts), subfamily: Haemulinae
Max. size:  36 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range 3 - 25 m
Distribution:  Western Atlantic: southern Florida (USA), Bahamas, and Yucatan, Mexico to Brazil; including the Gulf of Mexico and the entire Caribbean Sea (Ref. 9626).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 12-12; Dorsal soft rays (total): 15-16; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 8-8. Pale gray above; belly darker gray. Yellow stripes along side; bronze-yellow stripes and spots on head (Ref. 26938). Snout and fins primarily brownish (Ref. 13442).
Biology:  Occurs in clear rocky or coral reefs (Ref. 5217) and mangroves (Ref. 26340). Often forming schools (Ref. 3798). Nocturnal feeder on crabs, gastropods, starfish and annelid worms (Ref. 5521). Marketed fresh (Ref. 3798).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 01 March 2011 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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