Cottonwick grunt (Haemulon melanurum)
Source-cited species reference: taxonomy from WoRMS, biology from FishBase, occurrence map from GBIF, conservation from IUCN Red List, description from Wikipedia.
Haemulon melanurum, the cottonwick grunt, is a species of ray-finned fish within the family Haemulidae. The species is found inhabiting tropical waters in the western Atlantic near parts of North and South America. The species can grow to a maximum length of 43.5 cm, however individuals are most commonly found at lengths of 25 cm. The maximum published weight of the species was 550 g. Adults are silver in coloration with narrow yellow stripes running along the body, with a bronze line in front of the eye. Adults also possess a black line running from the beginning of the dorsal fins to the caudal fins. It is an oviparous schooling fish that feeds on crustaceans.
- Scientific name
- Haemulon melanurum
- Authority
- (Linnaeus, 1758)
- Family
- Haemulidae
- Order
- Eupercaria incertae sedis
- Maximum length
- 33 cm
- Depth range
- 3–50 m
- Habitat zone
- reef-associated
- Iucn red list
- Least Concern
- Gbif occurrence records
- 23,091
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 melanurum · Authority: (Linnaeus, 1758) · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 275730.
Synonyms and superseded combinations recorded for this taxon: Haemulon melanura (Linnaeus, 1758); Perca melanura Linnaeus, 1758.
Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=275730 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.
Biology and life history (FishBase)
Measured values published by FishBase for Haemulon melanurum. Only fields the database actually holds for this species are shown; these are database values, not aquarium guidance.
Maximum length: 33 cm · Common length: 25 cm · Depth range: 3–50 m · Habitat zone: reef-associated · Body shape: short and / or deep · Vulnerability index: 33.1 of 100 · Fishery importance: minor commercial · Aquarium trade: public aquariums.
FishBase notes: Inhabits clear inshore and offshore reefs (Ref. 9710) and adjacent grass beds, often in schools (Ref. 3798). Feeds on crustaceans (Ref. 3798). Marketed fresh (Ref. 3798).
Source: FishBase species summary (SpecCode 1138) — https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Haemulon-melanurum.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-23.
Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)
23,091 georeferenced occurrence records for Haemulon melanurum are published through GBIF from 29 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 42 distinct locations from a sample of 3,000 records, omitting 8 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 (20,673); Puerto Rico (2,100); Mexico (142); Colombia (33); Trinidad and Tobago (18).
The full country table, WoRMS marine regions and the sampling notes are on this species' Distribution page.
Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 2382540) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=2382540&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=275730 (CC BY 4.0); Natural Earth 110m basemap — https://www.naturalearthdata.com/ (public domain). Accessed 2026-09-23.
Conservation status (IUCN Red List)
The IUCN Red List assesses Haemulon melanurum (Linnaeus, 1758) 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 194420) — https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/194420/0; GBIF IUCN Red List category endpoint (taxonKey 2382540) — https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/2382540/iucnRedListCategory. Accessed 2026-09-23.
Description and natural history (Wikipedia)
The cottonwick grunt is found distributed in much of the Caribbean and other nearby areas, spanning from northern Brazil to southeastern Florida and Veracruz, as well as southeastern Texas and Bermuda. Habitats include clear waters up to 50 m deep, often alongside reefs and adjacent seagrass beds. It may also be found alongside shipwrecks that act as artificial reefs.
The cottonwick grunt is currently assessed as 'Least concern' by the IUCN Red List. Adults are often abundant in some areas. The species currently has minor commercial importance to fisheries and the aquarium trade. It can potentially be impacted by localised overfishing and invasive lionfish that may eat small growing individuals. However, there is little evidence to suggest global scale declines from these threats.
Source: Wikipedia: Haemulon melanurum — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haemulon_melanurum (CC BY-SA 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.
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