Scientific Name
Lachnolaimus maximus

Common Name
Hogfish

Biology
Dorsal spines (total): 14; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 10. Deep-bodied wrasse with a strongly arched dorsal profile. First 3 dorsal spines filamentous. Only wrasse with elongate dorsal spines and such a highly arched profile (Ref. 26938). Color variable but generally mottled brownish red with a black spot at rear base of dorsal fin (Ref. 13442).

Classification

Classified By

Walbaum, 1792

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Perch-like fish (Perciformes)

Family

Wrasses (Labridae)

Distribution

Region

Western Atlantic

Distribution

Western Atlantic: Nova Scotia (Canada), Bermuda, and northern Gulf of Mexico to northern South America.

Range

46°N - 7°N

Environment

Climate

Subtropical

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

3 m

Depth To - meters

30 m

Zone

reef-associated

Environment

Marine; reef-associated; depth range 3 - 30 m (Ref. 9710)

Trophic Level

3.93 s.e. 0.39 Based on diet studies.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

False

Occurs in Fresh Water

False

Occurs on Reefs

True

Is kept in Aquariums

True

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

91.0 cm

Common Length

35.0 cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 1.0000 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: minor commercial; gamefish: yes; aquarium: commercial

Vulnerability

High to very high vulnerability (66 of 100)

Resilience

Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (K=0.09; Fec=100,00)

Threat To Humans

Reports of ciguatera poisoning (Ref. 7251)

IUCN Red List Status

Vulnerable (VU) (A2bd), IUCN Grouper and Wrasse Specialist Group