haemulids

Haemulids are a family of marine ray-finned fish commonly known as grunts. They belong to the order Perciformes and are found in tropical and subtropical waters worldwide, with the highest diversity in the Indo-Pacific region. Grunts are characterized by their prominent, thick lips and the distinct "grunting" sound they produce by vibrating their pharyngeal teeth against their swim bladders. This sound is often used for communication within schools and during predator-prey interactions.

The family Haemulidae includes over 200 species distributed across several genera, such as Haemulon, Pomadasys, and Anisotremus. Many species exhibit striking color patterns, often with stripes, spots, or bars, which can aid in camouflage or species recognition. They are typically schooling fish, forming aggregations that can range from a few individuals to thousands.

Grunts inhabit a variety of marine environments, including coral reefs, seagrass beds, mangroves, and rocky shores. Their diet varies depending on the species, but many are omnivores or carnivores, feeding on small invertebrates, crustaceans, and smaller fish. Some species are commercially important as food fish, while others are popular in the aquarium trade. They play a role in the marine ecosystem as both prey for larger fish and predators of smaller organisms.