Blackfin Hogfish

Scientific Name: Bodianus loxozonus
Species: Wrasses (Labridae)
Other names: Hogfishes, Eclipse Hogfish, Trotter's Hogfish, Blackfin Pigfish, Eclipse Pigfish, Banner Wrasse.

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Blackfin Hogfish

Uploaded by: @KitBrennan in July 2009
Photographed at: Cod Hole - Great Barrier Reef - Australia
Caption: No caption available
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Blackfin Hogfish

Uploaded by: @epic in July 2009
Photographed at: Cod Hole - Great Barrier Reef - Australia
Caption: No caption available
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Description

Also known as Hogfishes, Eclipse Hogfish, Trotter's Hogfish, Blackfin Pigfish, Eclipse Pigfish and Banner Wrasse.

Found singly in clear lagoons and seaward reef slopes.
Juveniles solitary and sometimes act as cleaner fish..
They feed on hard shell invertebrates.
Length - 40cm
Depth - 3-40m
Widespread 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. (edit)