Fish Identification Photos: Sand Grunt, Pomadasys branickii: The Sand Grunt, silver with a brown tinge, is characterized by 13 dorsal spines, long pectoral fins, large eye with a yellow iris, a strong straight lateral line, and a prominent yellow-brown gill cover.

This species is particularly well protected with a long and stout second anal spine, the length of which is two times the diameter of the eye and four times the size and length of the first anal spine.

The Sand Grunt also has an enormous first pelvic spine (which is very unusual) that is approximately two-thirds the length of the second pelvic ray.

The Sand Grunt is a member of the Haemulidae family which includes grunts (known in Mexico as burros), porkfish and salemas.

The Sand Grunt is reported in the scientific literature to be found in Mexican waters only between La Paz and Loreto and along the coast of the mainland south of Mazatlán, making this collection both interesting and atypical. The Sand Grunt grows to a length of 12 inches and is generally found in muddy bays and estuaries in the first 50 feet of the water column.

Care must be taken to distinguish the Sand Grunt from the Panama or Highfin Grunt, Pomadasys panamensis (dark blotch at top of gill cover; slender second anal spine), the Longspine Grunt, Pomadasys macracantus (12 dorsal spines, dark spot at the top of gill cover and pectoral fin base), and the Yellowstripe or Axil Grunt, Haemulopsis axillaris (black blotch on top behind gill cover, dark lines on flank, third anal spine longer than second). The Sand Grunt is viewed as poor table fare by locals.

Sand Grunt, Pomadasys branickii: Fish donated to MexFish.com by the commercial Mexican fishermen of Todos Santos, Baja California Sur, January 2008. Size approximately 12 inches. Fish identification reconfirmed by H.J. Walker, Jr., Scripps Institute of Oceanography, La Jolla, Calif. Description and photo courtesy of John Snow. Sand Grunt, Pomadasys branickii: Collected off the commercial beach at Todos Santos, Baja California Sur, Mexico, as a discard from the commercial operation, in July 2005, water temperature 73 degrees. Size approximately 14 inches. Decription and photo courtesy John Snow. Fish identification courtesy of Dr. Ross Robertson.