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Armed grunt (Conodon serrifer) — Haemulidae

Armed grunt

Conodon serrifer
Family: Haemulidae
LC · Least Concern

The Armed grunt (Conodon serrifer) is a saltwater fish of the family Haemulidae that grows up to 34 cm.

Length
34 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
10.0–60.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Small groups
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Range
Eastern Pacific
Edibility
Commonly eaten

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Description

The armed grunt is a grunt from the eastern Pacific, ranging from the Gulf of California to Peru. It grows to about 34 cm and has a streamlined, laterally compressed body that is charcoal grey with blue tones above and pale below, with seven to eight narrow dark cross-bars. A distinctive feature is a large, stout spine at the angle of the gill cover, which can inflict wounds. It lives on soft coastal bottoms between 10 and 60 metres depth and feeds on bottom animals. It is a food fish sold fresh. The IUCN assesses the species as Least Concern (LC).

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Armed grunt?

The Armed grunt has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly silver-grey and shows a vertical stripes pattern. Large sturdy spine on the corner of the operculum that can cause injuries

Where does the Armed grunt live?

The Armed grunt lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom. Eastern Pacific

How big does the Armed grunt get?

The Armed grunt grows to a maximum of about 34 cm. On average the species is around 25 cm.

Is the Armed grunt dangerous to humans?

No, the Armed grunt is harmless to humans. This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status.

Is the Armed grunt edible?

Yes, the Armed grunt is commonly eaten.

More photos

Armed grunt (Conodon serrifer) — Haemulidae — 2
iNaturalist ((c) Alberto, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Armed grunt (Conodon serrifer) — Haemulidae — 3
iNaturalist ((c) Daniel, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Armed grunt (Conodon serrifer) — Haemulidae — 4
iNaturalist ((c) Daniel, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Armed grunt (Conodon serrifer) — Haemulidae — 5
iNaturalist ((c) pmk00001, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Fin

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All data

Identification

English name
Armed grunt verified
Scientific name
Conodon serrifer
Family
Haemulidae
Other names
Armed grunt; Serrated grunt verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
34.0 verified
Average length (cm)
25.0 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey sourced
Pattern
Vertical bars sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Mouth position
Terminal sourced
Lips
Thick / fleshy sourced
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous sourced
Dorsal spines
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
10.0 verified
Max depth (m)
60.0 verified
Natural range
Eastern Pacific verified
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Diet (detail)
Benthic invertebrates such as crustaceans and worms inferred
Social behaviour
Small groups inferred
Territorial
No sourced
Activity
Nocturnal inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No sourced
Seasonality
Resident fish on soft coastal bottoms; present year-round. sourced
Special features
Large sturdy spine on the corner of the operculum that can cause injuries sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten sourced
Fishing method
Bottom fishing with natural bait on soft coastal bottoms. sourced
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced
First aid
This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status. verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Conodon

More from the family Haemulidae

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