divepix - Hogfish

Hogfish

Aspect:	Narrow, but tall body with very prominent "forehead", tail base and tail fin. Dramatic appearance changes from juvenile to intermediate and terminal phases: first orange with white random blotches, turning plain darker orange (when distinctive darker "forehead" appears), and then white with dark patch on head and finally plain grey with black forhead, dorsal fin and vertical bar across tail base, odd bright yellow pectoral fins with black longitudinal stain aft these.
Population:	Quite common.
Notable feature:	Systematically deploys the first three long spines of its dorsal fin vertically whenever it stops swimming (or while sleeping at night), parking them down as soon as it moves forwards again (almost comical to watch). Can be affected by ciguaterra.
Environment:	Usually wanders about close to bottom in quiet waters, finds food in coral sand bottom (zooplancton, small crustaceans etc) thanks to its prominent snout, which owes it its name.
Behaviour:	Unafraid, can easily be approached (quietly of course).

More in this category: Spanish Hogfish »