Fish Identification Photos: Wavyline Grunt, Microlepidotus inornatus: The Wavyline Grunt has an overall silver-gray elongated appearance characterized by seven to nine narrow orange stripes along its sides, with the stripes above the lateral line being broken, giving an overall wavy appearance.

The Wavyline Grunt would most likely be confused with the Bronze Stripped Grunt, Orthopristis reddingi (less prominent stripes, not broken above the lateral line), and perhaps with the Shortfin Humpback Grunt, Mircolepidotus brevipinnis (less prominent stripes, not broken above the lateral line, and less aerodynamic), and the Brassy Humpback Grunt, Orthopristis chalceus (less prominent stripes not broken above the lateral line and less aerodynamic).

The Wavyline Grunt is a member of the Haemulidae or Grunt Family which are known in Mexico as "burros."

In Mexican waters, the Wavyline Grunt is found all along the Pacific side of the Baja California peninsula, in the lower three-fourths of the Sea of Cortez, and along the coast of the mainland south to Acapulco.

it appears to be absent from around the oceanic islands.

The Wavyline Grunt grows to a length of 18 inches and is generally found around inshore rocky reefs and in caves in the first 100 feet of the water column.

The Wavyline Grunt is viewed as good table fare but is generally small, impractical to fillet, and not abundant enough to be of significant interest.

Wavyline Grunt, Microlepidotus inornatus: Caught with Capt. Pata in the panga Salome, in 83-degree, 10-foot deep water, in September 2007, utilizing a Sabiki Rig, adjacent the La Playita marina breakwater at Puerto Los Cabos, San Jose del Cabo, Baja California Surl, Mexico. Size 21 cm. Description and photo courtesy of John Snow. Wavyline Grunt, Microlepidotus inornatus: Length 14 inches, caught with a Rapala, June 2001, from the beach at the light house of Punta Arena, East Cape, Baja California Sur., Mexico. Description, photo and fish identification courtesy Peter Langstraat.