Axilspot Hogfish (Juvenile)

Scientific Name: Bodianus axillaris
Species: Wrasses (Labridae)
Other names: Hogfishes, Axilspot Pigfish, Axil Hogfish, Axil Pigfish, Coral Hogfish, Coral Pigfish, Axil Pigfish, White-spotted Hogfish, Turncoat Hogfish, Polkadot Wrasse.

Some Images

Description

Also known as Hogfishes, Axilspot Pigfish, Axil Hogfish, Axil Pigfish, Coral Hogfish, Coral Pigfish, Axil Pigfish, White-spotted Hogfish, Turncoat Hogfish and Polkadot Wrasse.

Found singly, very occasionally on groups in clear water lagoons and outer reefs.
They feed on hard shell invertebrates.
Length - 17cm
Depth - 1-34m
Widespread Indo-Pacific

Most reef fish seen by divers during the day are grazers, that cruise around just above the surface of the coral or snoop into crevices looking for algae, worms and small crustaceans.
Wrasses have small protruding teeth and graze the bottom taking in a variety of snails, worms, crabs, shrimps and eggs. Any hard coats or thick shells are then ground down by their pharyngeal jaws and the delicacies inside digested.
From juvenile to adult wrasses dramatically alter their colour and body shapes.
Wrasses are always on the go during the day, but are the first to go to bed and the last to rise.
Small wrasses dive below the sand to sleep and larger wrasses wedge themselves in crevasses.

Spotted

The Axilspot Hogfish (Juvenile) has been photographed 6 times by user @fishx6