Species Blog
Hogfish (Lachnolaimus maximus)
Hogfish
are protogynous hermaphrodites. This means that they are born as a female and
upon reaching the age of around 3 years and a size of 14 inches they can fully
transform into males through social dominance. The hogfish spawn externally and
the eggs and early larvae are pelagic. The eggs develop into larvae rapidly and
hatch within 24 hours. The hogfish will stay in this larval form for a few
weeks before becoming a true juvenile. Juveniles will reside near sea grass
until they get larger and they will move to coral reefs or sandy bottoms. They
typically will eat mollusks, gastropods, and sea urchins, which is why they
will reside near sandy bottoms. The natural predators of the hogfish are large
boney fishes and sharks. Hogfish can reach a maximum length of 3 feet and a
maximum weight of 22 pounds. Hogfish can live to be 11 years old. The hogfish
have jaws with teeth that are capable of crushing the shells of mollusks and
crustaceans. Hogfish are white with a black spot directly behind the dorsal
fin. When they become males they will form a brown stripe from the anterior
portion of the face to the beginning of the dorsal fin on the dorsal side of
the face. The hogfish can also change colors fairly quick to camouflage itself.
The first three spines on the dorsal fin are typically extended out further
then the rest of the spines by quite a good bit. The hogfish has a laterally
compressed body. The caudal fin is lunate and the tips of the dorsal and anal
fins come to a point that extends out backwards.
The
hogfish are listed as a vulnerable species. I saw hogfish at Looe Key and the
coffins patch and pillars patch. Hogfish can be found in the Caribbean and in
the northern Gulf of Mexico and can be found in the western Atlantic as far
north as North Carolina and as far south as mid way through South America.
Hogfish are sometimes referred to as hog snapper but they are in fact a part of
the wrasse family and not a snapper.
In
conclusion, the hogfish is a unique fish that has many distinctive features.
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