Chere Chere Grunt

Body oblong, compressed and not very deep (depth contained 2.5 to 2.9 times in standard length); mouth large and terminal, its posterior end located at the same level as the posterior edge of the pupil; first gill arch with 19 to 25 gill rakers; dorsal fin notched, with 11 to 12 spines and 15 to 17 soft rays (XI-XII, 15-17); second anal spine slightly longer and stronger than third; scale series above lateral line oblique; body dark brown or silver gray; each scale bearing a pearly gray spot, the spots appearing to form lines following the scale series; lower part of preopercle with a black spot; caudal peduncle with a large dark spot; fins grayish (Ref. 55763). Scales below lateral line oblique; anal fin more heavily scaled than other species; silvery gray or brown on back, silvery on sides, with dark lines following oblique scale rows; a large black spot at caudal base (Ref. 13442).

Oviparous, distinct pairing during breeding (Ref. 205).

Dorsal spines (total): 12; Dorsal soft rays (total): 16; Analspines: 3; Analsoft rays: 9

Found over sandy and rubble bottoms; occasionally on coral reefs and rocky areas (Ref. 3798). Rarely in clear oceanic insular areas (Ref. 5217). Juveniles encountered near the shore, over sandy bottoms near seagrass beds (Ref. 9626). Feeds on benthic invertebrates (Ref. 3798). Carnivore (Ref. 57615). Crepuscular to nocturnal predators of bottom animals (Ref. 40396).

Found over sandy and rubble bottoms; occasionally on coral reefs and rocky areas (Ref. 3798). Rarely in clear oceanic insular areas (Ref. 5217). Often found in schools (Ref. 3798). Juveniles encountered near the shore, over sandy bottoms near seagrass beds (Ref. 9626). Feeds on benthic invertebrates (Ref. 3798). Marketed fresh (Ref. 3798).

fisheries: minor commercial; aquarium: public aquariums; bait: usually; price category: medium; price reliability: very questionable: based on ex-vessel price for species in this family