Home · Haemulidae · Bastard grunt
Bastard grunt (Pomadasys incisus) — Haemulidae

Bastard grunt

Pomadasys incisus
Family: Haemulidae
LC · Least Concern

The Bastard grunt (Pomadasys incisus) is a brackish-water fish of the family Haemulidae that grows up to 54 cm.

Length
53.5 cm
Water
Brackish
Depth
10.0–100.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Small groups
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Commonly eaten

Description

The bastard grunt is a marine fish of the family Haemulidae reaching over 50 cm but usually around 25 cm. The back is dark brown and the belly silvery-white, with a conspicuous black spot on the upper edge of the gill cover. Like other grunts it can make grunting sounds by grinding pharyngeal teeth and amplifying them with the swim bladder. It lives over hard and sandy bottoms of the eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean between 10 and 100 m, feeding on benthic invertebrates. Adults enter estuaries and lagoons. The bastard grunt is a valued food fish taken in coastal fisheries.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Bastard grunt?

The Bastard grunt has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly silver-grey and shows a plain pattern.

Where does the Bastard grunt live?

The Bastard grunt lives in brackish water and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Bastard grunt get?

The Bastard grunt grows to a maximum of about 54 cm. On average the species is around 25 cm.

Is the Bastard grunt dangerous to humans?

No, the Bastard grunt is harmless to humans.

Is the Bastard grunt edible?

Yes, the Bastard grunt is commonly eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Spaanse grommer verified
English name
Bastard grunt verified
Scientific name
Pomadasys incisus
Family
Haemulidae
Other names
Bastard grunt verified

Appearance

Size class
Large verified
Max length (cm)
53.5 verified
Average length (cm)
25.0 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey sourced
Pattern
Plain sourced
Tail shape
Forked sourced
Mouth position
Terminal inferred
Lips
Thin inferred
Barbels
No verified
Dorsal fins
One continuous sourced
Dorsal spines
Yes verified

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Brackish sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
10.0 verified
Max depth (m)
100.0 verified
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore verified
Social behaviour
Small groups verified
Territorial
No verified
Activity
Diurnal sourced
Reproduction
Separate sexes verified
Sexual dimorphism
No verified
levensduur_max_jaar
7 verified

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten verified
Fishing method
Bodemvissen met natuurlijk aas (worm, garnaal of vis) op of vlak boven de bodem. 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 Pomadasys

More from the family Haemulidae

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