Porkfish

Anisotremus virginicus

Your ears will help you identify this fish. A member of the grunt family, the Porkfish can produce a peculiar grunting sound by rubbing together the teeth in its throat. If their grunting puts you off, you may still be charmed by the characteristic "smiling" expression grunts have when their mouths are closed. When open, their mouths show a bright red lining, which they often display to each other in territorial contests. Grunts are a group of small to midsize basslike fishes that have deep, compressed, oval-shaped bodies.

Look For : A small, silvery grunt with prominent, yellow fins and side stripes and 2 broad, black vertical bars, one through the eye and one behind the head.

Length : 15".

Habitat : Coral reefs, mangroves, grassy coastal waters.

Range : Florida, Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean, and southward.