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Banana grunt (Haemulon striatum) — Haemulidae

Banana grunt

Haemulon striatum
Family: Haemulidae
LC · Least Concern

The Banana grunt (Haemulon striatum) is a saltwater fish of the family Haemulidae that grows up to 28 cm.

Length
28 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
10.0–210.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Large groups
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Commonly eaten

Description

The striped grunt is a grunt (Haemulidae) from the western Atlantic and the Caribbean. The species has a streamlined, silvery body with yellow lengthwise stripes. It occurs along exposed outer and deeper reefs on semi-hard bottoms, to about 210 m deep. It lives in schools and owes its name to the grunting sound it makes with its pharyngeal teeth. By day it schools above the reef; at night it hunts zooplankton and small invertebrates. It is a food fish. The species is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Banana grunt?

The Banana grunt has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly silver-grey and shows a horizontal stripes pattern.

Where does the Banana grunt live?

The Banana grunt lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground.

How big does the Banana grunt get?

The Banana grunt grows to a maximum of about 28 cm. On average the species is around 17 cm.

Is the Banana grunt dangerous to humans?

No, the Banana grunt is harmless to humans.

Is the Banana grunt edible?

Yes, the Banana grunt is commonly eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Gestreepte grommer sourced
English name
Banana grunt verified
Scientific name
Haemulon striatum
Family
Haemulidae
Other names
Common tomtate; Grunt; Smallmouth; Smallmouthed tomtate verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
28.0 verified
Average length (cm)
17.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey inferred
Pattern
Horizontal stripes inferred
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Mouth position
Terminal inferred
Lips
Thick / fleshy inferred
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous inferred
Dorsal spines
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
10.0 verified
Max depth (m)
210.0 verified
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Large groups inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten sourced
Fishing method
Vissen met natuurlijk aas (vis, garnaal, worm) of kunstaas dicht bij rif- en rotsstructuren. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced

Status & sources

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

Same genus Haemulon

More from the family Haemulidae

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