Smallspotted grunter (Pomadasys commersonnii)

Classification (WoRMS)

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

Accepted name: Pomadasys commersonnii · Authority: (Lacepède, 1801) · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 218563.

Synonyms and superseded combinations recorded for this taxon: Labrus commersonnii Lacepède, 1801; Pomadasys commersonni (Lacepède, 1801); Pomadasys operculare (Playfair, 1867); Pomadasys opercularis (Playfair, 1867); Pristipoma operculare Playfair, 1867.

Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=218563 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Biology and life history (FishBase)

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

Maximum length: 80 cm · Depth range: 0–49 m · Habitat zone: reef-associated · Body shape: fusiform / normal · Vulnerability index: 34 of 100 · Fishery importance: commercial · Aquarium trade: never/rarely.

FishBase notes: Found in coastal waters, estuaries, and tidal fissures; can tolerate freshwater. It can jet a stream of water into the mud to expose crustaceans, worms and small bivalves which it feeds on (Ref. 11441); including fish (Ref. 5213). Tasty food fish (Ref. 2799). Maximum depth range from Ref. 122702.

Source: FishBase species summary (SpecCode 5126) — https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Pomadasys-commersonnii.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)

655 georeferenced occurrence records for Pomadasys commersonnii are published through GBIF from 11 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 48 distinct locations from a sample of 655 records, omitting 26 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: South Africa (568); Pakistan (38); Mozambique (22); Namibia (12); Madagascar (5); Oman (3); Mayotte (3); Colombia (1); Kenya (1); Philippines (1); Yemen (1).

Marine regions with a valid WoRMS distribution record: Mozambican Exclusive Economic Zone; Kenyan Exclusive Economic Zone; Madagascar; Somali Exclusive Economic Zone; South Africa (country); Tanzanian Exclusive Economic Zone.

Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 2382906) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=2382906&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=218563 (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 Pomadasys commersonnii (Lacepède, 1801) 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 77129706) — https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/77129706/0; GBIF IUCN Red List category endpoint (taxonKey 2382906) — https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/2382906/iucnRedListCategory. Accessed 2026-09-25.

Description and natural history (Wikipedia)

Pomadasys commersonnii has a small mouth with moderately thick lips. there are two pores and a central pit on the chin. The dorsal fin contains 10-11 spines and 14-15 softrays, while the anal fin has 3 spines and 9-10 soft rays.

It has a dark grey back fading to silvery white on the underparts, the back and sides are marked with many small brown spots, these are also on the dorsal fin but do not extend to the head. There is a dark spot on the margin of the gill cover and the pelvic and anal fins. This species attains a maximum total length of 80 cm.

Distribution

Pomadasys commersonnii is found in the western Indian Ocean. It occurs along the eastern coast of Africa from the Gulf of Aden to Cape Point in South Africa, Madagascar and along the Asian coast from Yemen to the Arabian Sea coast of India.

Habitat and biology

Pomadasys commersonnii occurs in shallow coastal waters and estuaries. They spawn at sea and the juveniles settle in estuarine habitats which are used as nursery areas. The adults will also migrate into estuaries from the sea to feed.

This species can tolerate freshwater. It feeds on benthic invertebrates such as crustaceans, worms and small bivalves, which it can expose by jetting water into the mud using its mouth. It is an oviparous species, forming distinct pairs to spawn.

Systematics

Pomadasys commersonnii was first formally described as Labrus commersonnii in 1801 by the French naturalist Bernard Germain de Lacépède (1756-1825) with the type locality given as Grand golfe de l'Inde, interpreted as rivers of Madagascar. The specific name honours the French naturalist Philibert Commerçon, whose name is sometimes spelled Commerson, (1727-1773), Lacepède used Commerçon's drawings and notes to base his description on. The specific name argenteus means "silver" and refers to the main colour of this species.

Utilisation

Pomadasys commersonnii is targeted by commercial fisheries using bottom trawls, bottom longlines, gillnets and traps. In South Africa it is banned from sale, only recreational angling is allowed, which is popular. It is a species which may have potential in aquaculture in South Africa.

Source: Wikipedia: Pomadasys commersonnii — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pomadasys_commersonnii (CC BY-SA 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.