Grogneur de Roger (Pigsnout grunt)
Pomadasys rogerii (Cuvier, 1830)
Family Haemulidae • the silvery coastal grunt of West Africa
2 look-alikes to know
| French name | Grogneur de Roger. Other names: carpe-blanche, pierre. |
|---|---|
| Scientific name | Pomadasys rogerii (Cuvier, 1830) |
| Family | Family Haemulidae |
| English name (FAO) | Grogneur de Roger (Pigsnout grunt) |
| Local names | On Ivorian markets and landing sites: “Carpe-blanche” (Ouattara et al., 2016). |
| Habitat | Marine and brackish, coastal demersal over soft bottoms. Enters brackish waters. |
| IUCN status | LC Least Concern. Precise status to be confirmed. |
Identification
A grunt with an oval, compressed body, silvery to grey, darker back. Like all Pomadasys, it has two pores and a pit under the chin and produces grunting sounds. Somewhat pointed snout, even profile. Pale fins.
Features that never mislead
Two pores and a chin pit, the mark of the grunts.
Oval compressed body, silvery to grey.
Produces grunting sounds with the swim bladder.
Somewhat pointed snout, pale fins.
Size and weight
A medium-sized coastal grunt. Precise maximum size to be confirmed on FishBase. Typical catches of a few decimetres on the Ivorian coast.
Behaviour and ecology
A coastal, euryhaline demersal species that searches soft bottoms for worms, molluscs and small crustaceans. Enters the brackish waters of river mouths.
Present on the West African coast. In Côte d'Ivoire, caught along the shoreline and near the lagoons. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Reproduction and season
Coastal spawning, pelagic eggs and larvae. Young fish frequent brackish waters. Local spawning data to be documented.
Fishing practice
Techniques, from most to least effective
Bottom fishing with natural bait over coastal and estuary bottoms.
Surfcasting from beaches.
Caught in coastal nets.
The fight: honest, with steady pulls along the bottom, like the other grunts. A good fish for static bottom fishing.
Eating quality
Fine, appreciated white flesh. Excellent braised or grilled. A common food fish on the Ivorian coast.
Sources: FishBase (Pomadasys rogerii, Cuvier 1830); FAO Eastern Central Atlantic; Ouattara et al. 2016; IUCN status to be reconfirmed.