Cottonwick grunt (Haemulon melanurum)

General data
- Main name: Cottonwick grunt
- Climates: Tropical, Subtropical
- Habitat: Saltwater
- Native: North America, South America
- Distribution: Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean Sea
Classification
- Genus: Haemulon - Scaled-fin grunts
- Family: Haemulidae - Grunts
- Order: Perciformes - Perches
- Class: Teleostei - Ray-finned fishes
- Superclass: Osteichthyes - Bony fishes
Description
Western Atlantic: Bermuda, southeastern Florida (USA), and the Bahamas to Brazil. Dorsal spines (total): 12; Dorsal soft rays (total): 15-17; Anal soft rays: 8. Broad black area above line from dorsal fin origin to tip of lower caudal fin lobe, including upper part of caudal peduncle and both lobes of tail. Striking colored species, with a silvery body, black back and tail. With narrow yellow stripes, the broadest mid-lateral. Max length: 33 cm T Max. published weight: 550 g