Kingdom Animalia Genus Bodianus Phylum Chordata Rank Species | Family Labridae Scientific name Bodianus axillaris Higher classification Bodianus Order Perciformes | |
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Similar Bodianus, Wrasse, Split‑level hogfish, Bodianus anthioides, Diana's hogfish | ||
Axilspot hogfish
The axilspot hogfish, Bodianus axillaris, is a species of wrasse native to the Indo-Pacific.
Contents
axilspot hogfish bodianus maxillaries
Common Name
Axilspot hogfish
Habitat
Salt water
Dispersion
Thai Sea Boundary
Utilization
Fishery: Small Trading; Aquarium: Trade; Victim: Occasional using
Etymology
The genus name Bodianus, after Bodiano or Pudiano, derives from the Portuguese word pudor, meaning modesty.
Description
Adult fish are about 20 cm long. Males are red-brown anteriorly, and white posteriorly. They have large, dark spots on their pectoral fin bases, soft dorsal fins, and anal fins. Juveniles and females are black with a few large, white patches.
This oviparous species mainly feeds on mollusks and crustaceans and other benthic hard-shell invertebrates. It is also an aquarium fish.
Distribution
This species is mainly found in the Indo-Pacific, from the Red Sea to South Africa, Marshall Islands, Marquesan, and Tuamoto Islands, north to Japan.
Habitat
B. axillaris is a reef-associated species. It usually can be found in lagoons and seaward reefs, in caves or under ledges at depths between 2 and 100 m.