HomeMarine aquarium fishWrassesTarry hogfish Tarry hogfish (Bodianus bilunulatus) Scientific name: Bodianus bilunulatus Lacep?de, 1801 The Tarry hogfish (Bodianus bilunulatus) is a marine fish of the family Labridae. BiologyDorsal spines (total): 12; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 12. Young easily identified by the unusual coloration. Adults normally have an oval shaped black saddle near the tail, but it may become indistinct in large males.Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0. Species factsScientific nameBodianus bilunulatusFamilyLabridae (Wrasses)OrderPerciformes (Perch-like fish)ClassActinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)Maximum length55.0Depth range8–160 m (26–525 ft)EnvironmentMarine; reef-associated; depth range 8 - 160 mClimateTropicalDistributionIndo-West Pacific: disjunct distribution including one area from the western Indian Ocean to the western Pacific, and a second area including Hawaii and southern Polynesia, Line Islands to Pitcairn and west to Samoa.Conservation status (IUCN)Least Concern (LC)Threat to humansHarmlessUsesFisheries: minor commercial; gamefish: yes; aquarium: commercialResilienceLow, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.) More wrassesJordan's tuskfishChoerodon jordaniCircle-cheek wrasseHalichoeres miniatusThree-lined rainbowfishStethojulis trilineataCutribbon wrasseStethojulis interruptaPale-barred corisCoris dorsomaculaNebulous wrasseHalichoeres nebulosusSee all wrasses SourcesTaxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.Last updated 27 September 2026