Hogfish (Lachnolaimus maximus)

Scientific name: Lachnolaimus maximus Walbaum, 1792

Hogfish (Lachnolaimus maximus)

The Hogfish (Lachnolaimus maximus) is a marine fish of the family Labridae. Native range: Western Atlantic, Nova Scotia (Canada), Bermuda, and northern Gulf of Mexico to northern South America.

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. Color variable but generally mottled brownish red with a black spot at rear base of dorsal fin.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Lachnolaimus maximus
Family
Labridae (Wrasses)
Order
Perciformes (Perch-like fish)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
91.0
Common length
35.0
Depth range
3–30 m (10–98 ft)
Environment
Marine; reef-associated; depth range 3 - 30 m
Climate
Subtropical
Distribution
Western Atlantic: Nova Scotia (Canada), Bermuda, and northern Gulf of Mexico to northern South America.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Vulnerable (VU) (A2bd), IUCN Grouper and Wrasse Specialist Group
Threat to humans
Reports of ciguatera poisoning
Uses
Fisheries: minor commercial; gamefish: yes; aquarium: commercial
Resilience
Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (K=0.09; Fec=100,00)

More wrasses

See all wrasses

Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

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