MASTERS OF THE WATER-BONY FISHES 



239 



into a slot below the eye. Yellow is a predominant color, and there is often a 

 red lining inside the mouth. Many species show light and dark color phases 

 which adapt to the environment, a light phase being common when the fish 

 swims in open water. Some of them are deep-bodied. They are usually schooling 

 in habits, especially in the breeding season in summer. They are carnivorous, 

 mainly on fishes and invertebrates, feeding principally at night. The Spanish 

 name "ronco" comes from roncar, "to snore," a description of the sound these 

 fishes are able to make with the pharyngeal teeth and complex swim bladder. 



Several species of the genus Haemidon have the peculiar habit of rushing 

 at each other open-mouthed and "kissing" Cfig. 131^. The authors have seen 

 several species, notably the blue-striped grunt, do this repeatedly in late summer, 

 the breeding season. The reason for this habit is not known. It may be a sexual 

 display of some sort since the same pair of fishes has been observed by the 

 authors to kiss repeatedly, even driving intruders away. Another theory is that 

 this is an aggressive display, leading to the establishment of hierarchies, but the 

 most popular idea is that this is a territorial display of some sort. 



Grunts lay pelagic eggs. They are cosmopolitan in warm seas, but the large 

 genus, Haetnulon, is solely American. There are over fifty species in North 

 and Central America. 



CAESAR (tom TATE, RED-MOUTH grunt) : Bathystovui r'uuator 



Size: Up to 10 inches, but normally 5 inches. 



Distribution: From Cape Hatteras southward through the West Indies. 

 Identification: Members of this genus are elongate grunts with large, very 

 red mouths. The color of this species is silvery white to gray, bluish above. 



Fig. 130. Caesar. 



There are rows of horizontal yellow spots below the lateral line and oblique rows 

 of yellow spots above. There are two prominent yellow stripes, one from the 

 eye to the caudal fin and another above that from the head to the end of the 

 soft dorsal. The fins are not colored. Young fish have horizontal dark lines and 

 a caudal spot. 



Habits: This is a swarming, inquisitive little fish common around docks and 

 shores. It is omnivorous and very active as it noses about for food. 



