grunion
(ˈgrʌnjən)
[Prob. ad. Sp. gruñón grunter.]
A small Californian marine fish, Leuresthes tenuis, which comes ashore to spawn.
| 1917 Overland Monthly Dec. 529/1 Of all the peculiar fish of which the southern coast of California boasts, the Grunyon is the most peculiar, on account of its phenomenal manner of spawning. 1919 Fish Bulletin (Calif. Fish & Game Commission) 15 July 3 At Long Beach no name other than ‘grunion’ is ever heard, although one gleans from scientific works such names as ‘silver-sides’ and ‘little-smelt’. 1927 Glasgow Herald 17 Sept. 4 A very striking rhythm is exhibited by a Californian smelt, called the Grunion. Ibid., This is a very adaptive rhythm that works out profitably for the race of grunions. 1932 M. Miller I cover Waterfront 112 The spring tides, which accompany the full and the dark of the moon, are the time-tables by which the grunion runs can be predicted. 1965 A. J. McClane Standard Fishing Encycl. 167/1 The grunion come completely out of the water to spawn in moist beach sand at which time they are caught by hand. |