Torroto grunt (Genyatremus luteus)

Classification (WoRMS)

Full classification as recorded by WoRMS: Kingdom: Animalia · Phylum: Chordata · Class: Teleostei · Order: Eupercaria incertae sedis · Family: Haemulidae · Genus: Genyatremus.

Accepted name: Genyatremus luteus · Authority: (Bloch, 1790) · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 280829.

Synonyms and superseded combinations recorded for this taxon: Haemulon luteus (Bloch, 1790); Lutjanus luteus Bloch, 1790.

Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=280829 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Biology and life history (FishBase)

Measured values published by FishBase for Genyatremus luteus. Only fields the database actually holds for this species are shown; these are database values, not aquarium guidance.

Maximum length: 37 cm · Common length: 25 cm · Habitat zone: demersal · Body shape: short and / or deep · Vulnerability index: 27 of 100 · Fishery importance: minor commercial · Aquarium trade: never/rarely.

FishBase notes: Mainly found in brackish estuaries and adjacent areas, over sandy or muddy bottoms. Sometimes caught in marine waters. Feeds on crustaceans (Ref. 3798). Marketed fresh (Ref. 3798).

Source: FishBase species summary (SpecCode 7535) — https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Genyatremus-luteus.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)

480 georeferenced occurrence records for Genyatremus luteus are published through GBIF from 7 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 36 distinct locations from a sample of 480 records, omitting 47 inland records that carry an institution's coordinates rather than a collection site; it shows where the species has been observed and reported, not a modelled range.

Most records by country or area: French Guiana (285); Brazil (162); Suriname (14); Guyana (8); Trinidad and Tobago (5); Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) (4); Cuba (2).

Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 2382789) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=2382789&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=280829 (CC BY 4.0); Natural Earth 110m basemap — https://www.naturalearthdata.com/ (public domain). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Conservation status (IUCN Red List)

The IUCN Red List assesses Genyatremus luteus (Bloch, 1790) as Data Deficient (code DD). No trend, population estimate or threat analysis is given here, because none is available from this source without the Red List API; follow the source link for the full assessment, including its date.

Source: IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (taxon 79711881_2) — https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/79711881_2/0; GBIF IUCN Red List category endpoint (taxonKey 2382789) — https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/2382789/iucnRedListCategory. Accessed 2026-09-25.

Description and natural history (Wikipedia)

Genyatremus luteus has an oval-shaped, compressed body, which has a depth which is just under half of its standard length. The head is small with a moderately large mouth. There are 2 ports on the chin, but no central groove while the preoperculum has strong serrations at its corner large. The dorsal fin is high, containing 13 spines, the fifth being longer than the others, and 12 soft rays, while the anal fin has 3 spines and 11 soft rays.

The caudal fin is emarginate. The body silvery in colour with a yellowish tint. The edge of the preoperculum is yellow;. The spines in the dorsal fin are silvery and the fin has a black margin, the anal fin is yellowish.

The pectoral fins have a yellowish cast. The pelvic fins have a black rear margin the base of the tail is yellowish and it also has a black rear margin. This species grows to 37 cm in total length, though most do not exceed 25 cm, the maximum published weight is 800 g.

Distribution

Genyatremus luteus Is found in the Western Atlantic Ocean off the coast of South America where it is found from eastern Colombia to Brazil. It is also found north into the southern part of the Lesser Antilles.

Habitat and biology

Genyatremus luteus prefers brackish waters of estuaries with a mud or sand substrate down to about 40 m but has also been caught in marine waters. It feeds on smaller fishes and crustaceans.

Systematics

Genyatremus luteus was first formally described in 1790 as Lutjanus luteus by the German naturalist and physician Marcus Elieser Bloch with the type locality given as the Antilles, thought to be Martinique. The specific name luteus means “yellow”, a reference to the yellow or yellowish fins of this species. Some authorities have argued that Genyatremus luteus is not a valid name and that this taxon is synonymous with Cuvier's Diagramma cavifrons. Others argue that Cuvier's D. cavifrons is not a haemulid but is a member of another family altogether and that Bloch's L. luteus is valid and should be used as the type species of the genus Genyatremus.

Utilisation

Genyatremus luteus is of minor importance to local commercial fisheries, it is caught using seines and trawls and the catch is mostly sold fresh.

Source: Wikipedia: Genyatremus luteus — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genyatremus_luteus (CC BY-SA 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.