Grey grunt (Haemulon scudderii)

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 scudderii · Authority: Gill, 1862 · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 275734.

Synonyms and superseded combinations recorded for this taxon: Haemulon scudderi Gill, 1862.

Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=275734 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Biology and life history (FishBase)

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

Maximum length: 35 cm · Common length: 30 cm · Depth range: 3–40 m · Habitat zone: reef-associated · Body shape: short and / or deep · Vulnerability index: 25 of 100 · Fishery importance: commercial · Aquarium trade: never/rarely.

FishBase notes: Forms schools above rocky, boulder strewn reefs, slopes, and hard substrate with good water movement (Ref. 5227).

Source: FishBase species summary (SpecCode 13717) — https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Haemulon-scudderii.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)

849 georeferenced occurrence records for Haemulon scudderii are published through GBIF from 7 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 56 distinct locations from a sample of 849 records, omitting 36 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: Ecuador (369); Mexico (360); Panama (64); Costa Rica (46); Colombia (6); El Salvador (3); Nicaragua (1).

Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 2382514) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=2382514&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=275734 (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 scudderii Gill, 1862 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 183487) — https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/183487/0; GBIF IUCN Red List category endpoint (taxonKey 2382514) — https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/2382514/iucnRedListCategory. Accessed 2026-09-25.

Description and natural history (Wikipedia)

H. scudderii has an oblong, compressed body with an oblique mouth, which has a projecting lower jaw, the lips are not fleshy and open below the centre of the eye. It has a continuous dorsal fin, which has a small to medium-sized notch in its middle. The dorsal fin contains 11-12 spines and 14*17 soft rays while the anal fin has 3 spines and 7-8 soft rays. The overall colour is silvery-grey, with each of the scales having a black spot on it, with notably golden eyes.

The inside of the mouth is normally orange in colour. The median fins are black while the pectoral and pelvic fins are a slightly lighter dusky colour. The juveniles have a dark midlateral stripe that joins a black spot at the base of the caudal fin and a second stripe from the upper part of eye to upper surface of the caudal peduncle. This species attains a maximum total length of 35 cm, although a length of 30 cm is more typical.

Distribution

H. scudderii is endemic to the eastern Pacific Ocean. It is distributed from southern Baja California and the central Gulf of California south along the coasts of Central America and South America as far south as Ecuador, its range includes the Galapagos Islands.

Habitat and biology

H. scudderii is found at depths between 1 and 30 m, where it forms shoals around rock reefs in inshore waters wit some tidal movement. This species is a nocturnal carnivore, preying on benthic invertebrates such as crustaceans, echinoderms, and molluscs, as well as small fish. It is a poorly studied species and little is known about its biology, although it is oviparous and spawning is carried out in distinct pairs.

Systematics

H. scudderii was first formally described in 1862 by American zoologist Theodore Gill (1837-1914), with the type locality given as Cabo San Lucas in Baja California. The specific name honours American entomologist and paleontologist Samuel Hubbard Scudder (1837-1911), who at the time Gill wrote his description was studying the genus Haemulon with Louis Agassiz.

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