French grunt (Haemulon flavolineatum)

Classification (WoRMS)

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

Accepted name: Haemulon flavolineatum · Authority: (Desmarest, 1823) · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 275727.

Synonyms and superseded combinations recorded for this taxon: Diabasis flavolineatus Desmarest, 1823.

Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=275727 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Biology and life history (FishBase)

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

Maximum length: 30 cm · Common length: 17 cm · Depth range: 0–60 m · Habitat zone: reef-associated · Body shape: short and / or deep · Vulnerability index: 31.7 of 100 · Fishery importance: commercial · Aquarium trade: public aquariums.

FishBase notes: Occurs in large schools on rocky and coral reefs, often under ledges or close to elkhorn coral (Ref. 9710). Juveniles abundant in near-shore seagrass beds (Ref. 9710). Feeds mainly on small crustaceans (Ref. 3798). Marketed fresh (Ref. 3798).

Source: FishBase species summary (SpecCode 1135) — https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Haemulon-flavolineatum.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)

55,370 georeferenced occurrence records for Haemulon flavolineatum are published through GBIF from 39 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 135 distinct locations from a sample of 3,000 records, omitting 32 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: United States of America (41,889); Puerto Rico (3,269); Virgin Islands (U.S.) (2,861); Colombia (2,574); Mexico (1,267).

The full country table, WoRMS marine regions and the sampling notes are on this species' Distribution page.

Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 2382521) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=2382521&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=275727 (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 Haemulon flavolineatum (Desmarest, 1823) as Least Concern (code LC). 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 194418) — https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/194418/0; GBIF IUCN Red List category endpoint (taxonKey 2382521) — https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/2382521/iucnRedListCategory. Accessed 2026-09-25.

Description and natural history (Wikipedia)

H. flavolineatum was first formally described in 1823 as Diabasis flavolineatus by French zoologist Anselme Gaëtan Desmarest (1784–1838), with the type locality given as Cuba. The specific name is a compound of the Latin flavo meaning "yellow" and lineatum meaning "lined", a reference to the yellow stripes on the flanks.

Distribution

H. flavolineatum is found in the western Atlantic Ocean from South Carolina and Bermuda in the north, along the coast of the United States to the Bahamas, into the southern Gulf of Mexico including the Florida Keys, from Tuxpan in Mexico eastwards along the northern coast of the Yucatan Peninsula to northwestern Cuba, and south into the Caribbean Sea as far as Trinidad.

Description

H. flavolineatum has an almond-shaped body, which is compressed and ends in a blunt snout. The small to medium-sized mouth has thick lips and has narrow bands of teeth on each jaw, the outer line of teeth being conical in shape, and no teeth on the roof of the mouth. It has a continuous dorsal fin with a small to medium-sized notch. The dorsal fin contains 12 spines and 14-15 soft rays while the anal fin contains 3 spines and 8 soft rays.

The background colour of this fish is whitish to bluish or yellowish, with three vivid yellow to orange horizontal stripes above the lateral line and a number of similarly coloured oblique stripes below it. There are yellow spots on the lower surface of the head and the inside of the mouth is red. It has yellow fins and a white abdomen. This species attains a maximum total length of 30 cm, although 17 cm is more typical.

Habitat and biology

H. flavolineatum is found at depths between 1 and 60 m, where it can form large aggregations involving thousands of individuals, over rocky areas and coral reefs. They may stay under ledges or near elkhorn coral. The juveniles are frequently found in large numbers sheltering in sea grass beds in protected bays, lagoons, and other coastal waters.

They are mainly nocturnal and emerge at night to feed on benthic invertebrates such as molluscs, crustaceans, and polychaetes, foraging over sand flats and among sea-grass beds. They have pelagic eggs and larvae, but little is known about their reproductive habits. The larvae remain so for 2 weeks before settling among the sea grass.

Parasites

H. flavolineatum has many known parasites, among them is Gnathia marleyi, a small crustacean named in honour of reggae singer Bob Marley.

H. flavolineatum is an abundant species within its range, and is caught using traps and seines. The catch is not recorded separately for this species.

The flesh is normally sold fresh. Off Barbados it is one of the commoner species caught in fisheries. It is rare in the aquarium trade, but is more common in public aquarium displays.

Source: Wikipedia: Haemulon flavolineatum — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haemulon_flavolineatum (CC BY-SA 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.