HomeMarine aquarium fishOther marine fishPorkfish Porkfish (Anisotremus virginicus) Scientific name: Anisotremus virginicus Linnaeus, 1758 The Porkfish (Anisotremus virginicus) is a marine fish of the family Haemulidae. Native range: Western Atlantic, Bermuda (introduced) and Florida, USA to Brazil, including the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea. BiologyDorsal spines (total): 12; Dorsal soft rays (total): 16-18; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 9. Body striped yellow and silvery blue; fins yellow, 2 black bars: one from nape through eye to mouth, another from origin of dorsal fin to base of pectoral fin. Only grunt fish in the Caribbean with two vertical black bars and yellow stripes..Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0. Species factsScientific nameAnisotremus virginicusFamilyHaemulidae (Grunts)OrderPerciformes (Perch-like fish)ClassActinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)Maximum length40.6Common length25.0Depth range2–20 m (7–66 ft)EnvironmentMarine; reef-associated; depth range 2 - 20 mClimateSubtropicalDistributionWestern Atlantic: Bermuda (introduced) and Florida, USA to Brazil, including the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea.Conservation status (IUCN)Not EvaluatedThreat to humansReports of ciguatera poisoningUsesFisheries: minor commercial; gamefish: yes; aquarium: public aquariumsResilienceMedium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.) More other marine fishBlack margateAnisotremus surinamensisWhite margateHaemulon albumTomtate gruntHaemulon aurolineatumBlack gruntHaemulon bonarienseCaesar gruntHaemulon carbonariumSmallmouth gruntHaemulon chrysargyreumSee all other marine fish SourcesTaxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.Last updated 27 September 2026