Home · Haemulidae · Orthopristis cantharinus
Orthopristis cantharinus — Haemulidae

Orthopristis cantharinus

Orthopristis cantharinus
Family: Haemulidae

The Orthopristis cantharinus is a saltwater fish of the family Haemulidae that grows up to 30 cm.

Length
30 cm
Water
Saltwater
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Small groups
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Rarely eaten

Description

Orthopristis cantharinus is a grunt (Haemulidae) from the eastern Pacific, including around the Galapagos and in the Gulf of California. The species reaches about 30 cm and has a streamlined, silvery-grey body. It inhabits rock and sand bottoms of coastal waters. The diet consists of small bottom invertebrates searched out from the sediment. Like other grunts it can produce grunting sounds with its pharyngeal teeth, to which the family name refers. The species is caught locally in coastal fisheries and eaten.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Orthopristis cantharinus?

The Orthopristis cantharinus has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly silver-grey and shows a plain pattern.

Where does the Orthopristis cantharinus live?

The Orthopristis cantharinus lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Orthopristis cantharinus get?

The Orthopristis cantharinus grows to a maximum of about 30 cm. On average the species is around 20 cm.

Is the Orthopristis cantharinus dangerous to humans?

No, the Orthopristis cantharinus is harmless to humans.

Is the Orthopristis cantharinus edible?

The Orthopristis cantharinus is rarely eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Pacifische grommer sourced
English name
Orthopristis cantharinus sourced
Scientific name
Orthopristis cantharinus
Family
Haemulidae

Appearance

Max length (cm)
30.0 sourced
Average length (cm)
20.0 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey inferred
Pattern
Plain inferred
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Mouth position
Terminal inferred
Lips
Thick / fleshy inferred
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous inferred
Dorsal spines
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Small groups inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Rarely eaten sourced
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Orthopristis

More from the family Haemulidae

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