Scientific Name
Bodianus mesothorax

Common Name
Splitlevel hogfish

Biology
Dorsal spines (total): 12; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9-10; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 11 - 12. Juveniles and adults resemble their counterparts of B. axillaris, but juveniles have yellow rather than white spots and adults have well-defined black band between the light and dark portions of the body and lack ocelli on the dorsal and anal fins. Color of juveniles changes completely to adult pattern when about 5-6 cm long. The change takes only a few weeks and intermediates are rarely seen (Ref. 48636).

Classification

Classified By

Bloch & Schneider, 1801

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Perch-like fish (Perciformes)

Family

Wrasses (Labridae)

Distribution

Region

Indo-West Pacific

Distribution

Indo-West Pacific: Christmas Island in the eastern Indian Ocean, Indonesia, Philippines, north to southern Japan, south to the Great Barrier Reef.

Range

32°N - 24°S

Environment

Climate

Subtropical

Water Temperature From

24 °C

Water Temperature To

28 °C

Depth From - meters

5 m

Depth To - meters

40 m

Zone

reef-associated

Environment

Marine; reef-associated; depth range 5 - 40 m (Ref. 37816), usually 5 - 20 m (Ref. 27115)

Trophic Level

3.22 s.e. 0.36 Based on food items.

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

25.0 cm

Common Length

Unknown cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.5000 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Aquarium: commercial

Vulnerability

Low to moderate vulnerability (33 of 100)

Resilience

Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Least Concern (LC)