Cottonwick

Haemulon melanurum is a subtropical species of grunt native to the western Atlantic Ocean.

Description

It is a striking colored species, with a silvery body, black back and tail. Broad black area is above line from dorsal fin origin to tip of lower caudal fin lobe, including upper part of caudal peduncle and both lobes of tail. It also has narrow yellow stripes, the broadest are mid-lateral. Dorsal spines (total): 12; Dorsal soft rays (total): 15-17; Anal soft rays: 8. It commonly grows to a length to 25 cm, and its maximum recorded length is 33 cm. It can weigh up to 550 grams.

Distribution

Western Atlantic: Bermuda, southeastern Florida (USA), and the Bahamas to Brazil.

Habitat

It inhabits clear inshore and offshore reefs and adjacent grass beds, often in schools. It feeds on crustaceans.