Equetus punctatus
Spotted Drum
Maximum Size:
10.5 in (27 cm)
Longevity:
Unknown, probably around 10 years.
Typical depth:
10–98.5 ft (3–30 m)
Behavior:
Spotted drums are found under ledges, jetties and near small caves during the day. They are solitary creatures that are mostly active at night, when they hunt for crabs, shrimp and worms. Drums can emit a drumming sound when they feel threatened, which is the origin of their name.
Predators:
Moray eels, grouper and barracuda.
Did you know?
The spotted drum is occasionally known as a spotted sweetlips, referencing its similarity to a genus of fishes by the same name (known scientifically as Plectorhinchus) and commonly found in the Indo-West Pacific.
