Hogfish

Appearance

The hogfish is characterized by a large laterally compressed body shape. It possesses a very elongated snout which it uses to search for crustaceans buried in the sediment. Interestingly it is from this very long “pig-like” snout and its rooting behavior that the hogfish gets its name. The caudal, or tail fin, is somewhat lunate and the pectoral fins are along the lateral sides of the body with the paired pelvic fins directly below. A prominent black spot behind the pectoral fins differentiates male from females. The dorsal fin, usually is composed of three or four long dorsal spines followed by a series of shorter dorsal spines.

Warning: This species may carry toxins. see... http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20120209/ARTICLE/120209478/2416/NEWS?template=printart

Behavior

The hogfish, like many wrasses, is a sequential hermaphrodite. Which means it changes sex during different life stages. The hogfish is a protogynous, “first female” hermaphrodite. This means that the juvenile hogfish start out as female and then after a certain age mature to become male. The change usually occurs around 3 years of age and about 14inches in length. Females and juveniles will usually start out as a pale gray, brown, or reddish brown with a paler underside with no distinct color patterns. Males are signified by their coloration and have a deep dark band spanning from their snout to the first dorsal spine as well as the lateral black spot behind the pectoral fins. Hogfish reach a maximum size of about 3 feet and approximately 22 pounds and have been recorded to live up to 11 years. Spawning in South Florida occurs from November through June. Also Hogfish social groups are organized into harems where one male will mate and protect a group of females in its territory.