Diana's Hogfish

Diana's hogfish, Bodianus diana, is a species of wrasse native to the Indian Ocean from the African coast to the Nicobars and the Cocos-Keeling Islands. Reports of its presence in the western Pacific Ocean are erroneous. It occurs on the seaward side of reefs at depths from 6 to 50 m (20 to 164 ft) (though rarely deeper than 25 m (82 ft)). It can reach a length of 16.9 cm (6.7 in). This species is of minor importance to local commercial fisheries and is found in the aquarium trade.

Description

Juveniles are brown with numerous small to irregular white spots on the head and snout above the level of the mouth; spots behind the eye are usually distinct, and often aligned in rows. Males (Terminal phase adults) lack prominent black spots on the rear of the dorsal fin, and on the middle of the anal fin and on the pelvic fin.

Very similar to and easily confused with the recently described Bodianus dictynna.

Habitat

Adults are found in coral rich areas of seaward reefs. Reported to be associated with the mushroom Heliofungia actiniformis.

Distribution

Restricted to the Indian Ocean, excluding the Red Sea. It occurs from the Red Sea to South Africa (Natal), Comoro Is, Aldabra, Seychelles, Mauritius, Reunion, Chagos Archipelago, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Nicobars, Cocos (Keeling) Island and Northwestern Australia.

Replaced by Bodianus dictynna in the tropical Western Pacific and the the longer snouted Bodianus prognathus in the Line Islands.