Identification

• Silvery-gray body with faint horizontal stripes.

• Thick lips and a slightly blunt head.

• Often appears pale or white underwater, giving rise to its common name.

• Can produce grunting sounds by grinding its pharyngeal teeth, which is characteristic of grunt species.

Range

• Found throughout the western Atlantic Ocean, including:

  • Bermuda

  • Florida

  • Gulf of Mexico

  • The Caribbean Sea

  • Northern coasts of South America

Size

• Commonly 12–18 inches (30–45 cm).

• Can reach about 24 inches (60 cm)

• Specimens are 3"