Blackbelt Hogfish (juvenile)

Q: Where can you find Blackbelt Hogfish (juvenile)?

Blackbelt Hogfish (juvenile) can be found in: Mariana Islands, Malaysia East, Taiwan, Australia North, Marshall Islands, Anilao, Vanuatu, Brunei, China, Myanmar, Australia, Hong Kong, Japan South, Thailand East, Indo-Pacific Central, Australia East, Vietnam, Cambodia, Indo-Pacific, Papua New Guinea, Singapore, Malaysia, Japan, Indonesia, Palau, Philippines, Solomon Islands, New Caledonia, Micronesia, Tonga and Samoa, Kiribati, Fiji, Thailand.

Bodianus mesothorax

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Max Size

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Max Weight

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Max Depth

60 m

The split-level hogfish, Bodianus mesothorax, is a species of wrasse native to the western Pacific Ocean and the eastern Indian Ocean. They can be found on reefs at depths of 5 to 40 m (16 to 131 ft), though rarely below 20 m (66 ft). Juveniles inhabit caves in the reef. Adults of this species clean other fish by eating parasites on the body of other reef fish. This species can reach a length of 25 cm (9.8 in). This species can be found in the aquarium trade.

Common Name

The common name of this species is the Split-level or Coral Hogfish.

Description

The Coral Hogfish undergoes a major change from juvenile to adult coloration, typical of many hogfish species. The juvenile is jet-black, with bright yellow around its eyes and on the body. The adult hogfish has a pink head, and then a vertical black stripe separating the pink head from the rest of the body, which is bright yellow. The change of coloration occurs quickly, at around 2 inches.

Habitat and Distribution

The Split-level Hogfish lives in reefs of the Eastern Indian and the Western Pacific Oceans. It is commonly imported for the fish trade from the Philippines and Indonesia.