The Grunts (Haemulidae): The fish of the Grunt or Haemulidae family are known in Mexico as "burros." They are similar in appearance to the snappers but can be distinguished by their lack of canine and vomerine teeth and by the presence of pits on their chins.

When collected, these fish grunt audibly by rubbing together tooth plates in their throats. Most grunts are small schooling fishes that swarm over reefs during the day and move to sandy shoals at night. They feed primarily at night on benthic invertebrates such as shrimp, clams, and polychaetes worms. The stripes of juveniles are more prominent than in adults.

Globally, 150 species of grunts have been identified, many of them hard to differentiate. In Mexican waters, there are reports of as many as 25 different kinds of grunts in the Sea of Cortez alone.

The members of the Grunt family found in Mexican waters and represented in the fish identification section of this website include: Atlantic Porkfish, Anisotremus virginicus; Burrito Grunt, Anisotremus interruptus; California Salema, Xenistius californiensis; Cortez Grunt, Haemulon flaviguttatum; Goldeneye Grunt, Haemulon scudderi; Greybar Grunt, Haemulon sexfasciatum; Humpback Grunt, Orthopristis chalceus; Latin Grunt, Haemulon steindachneri; Longfin Salema, Xenichythys xanti; Panamic Porkfish, Anisotremus taeniatus; Raucous Grunt, Haemulopsis leuciscus; Sand Grunt, Pomadasys branickii; Sargo, Anisotremus davidsonii; Sheephead Grunt, Orthopristis cantharinus; Shortfin Humpback Grunt, Mircolepidotus brevipinnis; Spottail Grunt, Haemulon maculicauda; Wavyline Grunt, Microlepidotus inornatus;White Grunt, Haemulon plumieri; and Yellowstripe Grunt, Haemulopsis axillaris.