African Striped Grunt (Parapristipoma Octolineatum)

Latin name: Parapristipoma octolineatum
Common name: African striped grunt
In other languages: E: Boca de oro, F: Grondeur Raya, D: Achtstreifengrunzer
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Family: Haemulidae
Genus: Parapristipoma

Distribution: Found only in the western Mediterranean and the Strait of Gibraltar; more common on the Moroccan coastline than on the Spanish coastline.

Habitat: Waters from ten metres down to 100 metres.

Behaviour: In their juvenile stages they move inshore and adopt a territory. Not being a timid fish it can be easily approached by divers - it may even dance for the diver at first by doubling back on itself.

Diet: Crustaceans and molluscs.

Size: Common: 20 - 25cm, maximum: 50cm.

Colour: Looking jet-black underwater the true colour is violet or dark brown. It can easily be distinguished from other species by four horizontal white lines running on the length of both flanks on the upper part of its body only.