Family HAEMULIDAE

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Introduction

Haemulids are commonly known in Australia as grunts (Hapalogenys and Pomadasys) and sweetlips (Diagramma and Plectorhinchus). Worldwide, the family comprises approximately 145 species in 17 genera (Nelson 2006). In Australian waters, 21 species in three genera have been recorded. Recent molecular work has questioned some of the current generic classification (Sanciangco et al. 2011).

Haemulids occur in all tropical seas, inhabiting estuaries, coral reefs, and offshore soft bottoms of the continental shelf. A few species are also found in rivers, particularly in Central America. Diagramma and Plectorhinchus are inhabitants of coral reefs, whereas Hapalogenys and Pomadasys frequent soft bottoms. They feed on a wide variety of benthic invertebrates such as crabs, prawns, worms and molluscs. Haemulids resemble snappers (Lutjanidae) in appearance, but have a smaller mouth, thicker lips, and the teeth in the jaws are conical and small with none developed as canines. The maximum size of Australian species is 90 cm. Sweetlips are considered excellent eating and are an important angling species, but are not seen in large numbers in the fish markets.

Currently, there is no comprehensive review of the family, McKay (1984), however, discussed Australian species. Most of the coral reef species (in Diagramma and Plectorhinchus) are diagnosed and illustrated in colour by Randall et al. (1997) and documented by McKay (2001) and Johnson & Wilmer (2015)..

Sanciangco et al (2011) discussed relationships within the family and suggested that Plectotrhinchus as currently recognised is not monophyletic, with at least one species of Diagramma being more closely related to some species of Plectorhinchus than others.

The family name Pomadasyidae, often seen in the literature, is frequently used for the Haemulidae.

The genus Hapalogenys has often been included in this family. However, Springer & Raasch (1995) placed it in a separate family. Leis & Carson-Ewart (2000) suggested a possible relationship with the Lobotidae. Iwatsuki & Russell (2006) summarised published information about relationships of the genus up to that time. Subsequently two studies (Ren & Zhang 2007; Sanciangco et al 2011) have supported placing the genus in a separate family (Hapalogenyidae) from the Haemulidae.

 

General References

Hoese, D.F., Bray, D.J., Paxton, J.R. & Allen, G.R. 2006. Fishes. In, Beesley, P.L. & Wells, A. (eds) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Vol. 35. Volume 35 Australia : ABRS & CSIRO Publishing Parts 1-3, 2178 pp. [1218]

Iwatsuki, Y. & Russell, B.C. 2006. Revision of the genus Hapalogenys (Teleostei: Perciformes) with two new species from the Indo-West Pacific. Memoirs of Museum Victoria 63(1): 29-46

Johnson, J.W. & Wilmer, J.W. 2015. Plectorhinchus caeruleonothus, a new species of sweetlips (Perciformes: Haemulidae) from northern Australia and the resurrection of P. unicolor (Macleay, 1883), species previously confused with P. schotaf (Forsskål, 1775). Zootaxa 3985(4): 491–522

Leis, J.M. & Carson-Ewart, B.M. 2000. The larvae of Indo-Pacific coastal fishes. An identification guide to marine fish larvae. Fauna Malesiana Handbooks Leiden : Brill Vol. 2 870 pp.

McKay, R.J. 1984. Classification of the grunters and javelin-fishes of Australia. Australian Fisheries Newsletter 43(10): 37-40 6 figs

McKay, R.J. 2001. Haemulidae. pp. 2961-2989 in Carpenter, K.E. & Niem, V.H. (eds). The Living Marine Resources of the Western Central Pacific. FAO Species Identification Guide for Fisheries Purposes. Rome : FAO Vol. 5 2791-3379 pp.

Nelson, J.S. 2006. Fishes of the World. Hoboken, New Jersey : John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 601 pp.

Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & Steene, R. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Bathurst : Crawford House Press 557 pp. figs.

Ren, G. & Zhang, Q. 2007. Phylogeny of haemulid with discussion of systematic position of the genus Haplogenys. Acta Zootaxonomica Sinica 32(4): 835-841 [in Chinese, with English summary]

Sanciangco, M.D., Rocha, L.A. & Carpenter, K.E. 2011. A molecular phylogeny of the Grunts (Perciformes: Haemulidae) inferred using mitochondrial and nuclear genes. Zootaxa 2966: 37–50

Springer, V.G. & Raasch, M.S. 1995. Fishes, Angling, and Finfish Fisheries on Stamps of the World. American Topical Association. Fishes on Stamps Handbook No. 129. 1-110 pp.

 

Common Name References

Allen, G.R. & Steene, R.C. 1979. The Fishes of Christmas Island, Indian Ocean. Aust. Natl. Parks Wldlf. Ser. Spec. Publ. 2. Canberra : Australian Government Publishing Service 81 pp. 15 pls. [67] (Sweetlips)

McKay, R.J. 2001. Haemulidae. pp. 2961-2989 in Carpenter, K.E. & Niem, V.H. (eds). The Living Marine Resources of the Western Central Pacific. FAO Species Identification Guide for Fisheries Purposes. Rome : FAO Vol. 5 2791-3379 pp. [2961] (Grunts, Rubberlips, Velvetchins)

 

History of changes

Published	As part of group	Action Date	Action Type	Compiler(s)
08-Sep-2015	HAEMULIDAE	20-Aug-2015	MODIFIED	Dr Doug Hoese
18-Dec-2012		18-Dec-2012	MODIFIED
		12-Feb-2010	(import)