Home · Haemulidae · Blue-and-gold snapper grunt
Blue-and-gold snapper grunt (Anisotremus caesius) — Haemulidae

Blue-and-gold snapper grunt

Anisotremus caesius
Family: Haemulidae

The Blue-and-gold snapper grunt (Anisotremus caesius) is a saltwater fish of the family Haemulidae that grows up to 30 cm.

Length
30 cm
Water
Saltwater
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Range
North America: Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and others
Edibility
Commonly eaten

Want the complete picture on the Blue-and-gold snapper grunt?

Get the app

Description

The blue grunt is a grunt (Haemulidae) from reef and rocky water of the eastern Pacific. The species grows to about 30 cm and has a deep, silvery body with a blue-grey sheen and can make a grunting sound with its throat teeth. As a nocturnal fish it shelters by day in loose groups above reef and searches at night over sand for worms, small crustaceans and molluscs. It is a valued food fish. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Blue-and-gold snapper grunt?

The Blue-and-gold snapper grunt has a flattened, disc-shaped body and is mainly silver-grey.

Where does the Blue-and-gold snapper grunt live?

The Blue-and-gold snapper grunt lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground. North America: Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and others

How big does the Blue-and-gold snapper grunt get?

The Blue-and-gold snapper grunt grows to a maximum of about 30 cm. On average the species is around 25 cm.

Is the Blue-and-gold snapper grunt dangerous to humans?

No, the Blue-and-gold snapper 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 Blue-and-gold snapper grunt edible?

Yes, the Blue-and-gold snapper grunt is commonly eaten.

More photos

Blue-and-gold snapper grunt (Anisotremus caesius) — Haemulidae — 2
iNaturalist ((c) donnymidas, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Blue-and-gold snapper grunt (Anisotremus caesius) — Haemulidae — 3
iNaturalist ((c) Felipe Campos, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Blue-and-gold snapper grunt (Anisotremus caesius) — Haemulidae — 4
iNaturalist ((c) Leona Kustra, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Blue-and-gold snapper grunt (Anisotremus caesius) — Haemulidae — 5
iNaturalist ((c) flore_boituzat, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Fin

Want the complete picture on the Blue-and-gold snapper grunt?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Blue-and-gold snapper grunt is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Get the app →

All data

Identification

English name
Blue-and-gold snapper grunt sourced
Scientific name
Anisotremus caesius
Family
Haemulidae
Other names
Silvergrey grunt; Silvergray grunt verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
30.0 verified
Average length (cm)
25.0 verified
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Natural range
North America: Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and others sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Nocturnal sourced
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known. inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten inferred
Fishing method
Fishing with natural bait (fish, shrimp, worm) or lures close to reef and rock structures. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified
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 Anisotremus

More from the family Haemulidae

Fin

Want the complete picture on the Blue-and-gold snapper grunt?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Blue-and-gold snapper grunt is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Get the app →
Is this the Blue-and-gold snapper grunt? Get the app