Ryan Photographic - Haemulidae - Grunts & Sweetlips

Family Haemulidae

There are around 150 species of grunts distributed amongst 15 genera. They get their common name of grunt from noises they make while grinding food with their pharyngeal teeth, a sound that is amplified by their swimbladder. Most grunts are nocturnal, often associating in large, mixed species schools during the day and dispersing at night to feed. They mostly feed on benthic invertebrates with crustaceans being a major food source. Some haemulids are referred to as sweetlips - a reference to the thick rubbery lips that characterise this group. Many species undergo an extraordinary metamorphosis between the juvenile and adult. The differences are so startling that it is hard to believe they are the same species.

Diving with sweetlips can be a spectacular experience. In the Raja Ampat islands large aggregations of sweetlips occur around coral heads and they permit close approach. On occasion I have been within inches of a crowd of curious sweetlips, all staring intently at me. This remains one of my most rewarding dive experiences.

Anisostremus interruptus Burrito grunt

Diagramma pictum Silver sweetlips

Haemulon flavolineatum French grunt

Haemulon juveniles

Haemulon plumieri White grunt

Haemulon sexfasciatum Graybar grunt

Plectorhinchus chaetodonoides Many-spotted sweetlips

Plectorhinchus flavomaculatus Gold-spotted sweetlips

Plectorhinchus lineatus Diagonal-banded sweetlips

FISH 3295 Plectorhinchus lineatus Diagonal-banded sweetlips and Plectorhincus multivittatum Many-lined sweetlips, Raja Ampat, West Papua.

Plectorhinchus multivittatum Many-lined sweetlips

FISH 3292 Plectorhinchus lineatus Diagonal-banded sweetlips (top) and Plectorhincus multivittatum Many-lined sweetlips (below), Raja Ampat, West Papua.

Plectorhinchus picus Dotted sweetlips

Plectorhinchus polytaenia Ribbon sweetlips

FISH 0098 Plectorhinchus polytaenia, Ribbon sweetlips being cleaned by Labroides dimidiatus, Kri, Raja Ampat.

FISH 0092 Plectorhinchus polytaenia, Ribbon sweetlips, Kri, Raja Ampat, West Papua.

Plectorhinchus vittatus Oriental sweetlips

Fishes

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