Species: Bodianus pulchellus, Spotfin Hogfish, Spotfin Hogfish Wrasse

Bodianus pulchellus (Poey, 1860)

Spotfin Hogfish, Spotfin Hogfish Wrasse

Body robust, compressed; snout pointed; mouth protrusible, opens at front, thick lips; rear of top jawbone not visible on cheek; toothed grinding plates in throat; a canine tooth at rear of top jaw, strong canines at front of both jaws; gill rakers 15-16; gill membranes fused under throat; dorsal fin XII, 9-11, not obviously notched between spiny and soft parts; anal fin III, 12; lateral line unbroken, smoothly arched; scales large, 29-31 with pores on lateral line.

Juvenile: bright yellow, a large black blotch covering first 4 spines of the dorsal fin. Adult: head, body, pelivics, anal, front ¾ of dorsal fin, lower part of tail base and lower edge of tail fin deep red, with an indistinct white stripe from mouth to mid-body; pectoral fin red, with dark upper tip; tail base, rear of dorsal fin and tail fin bright yellow; a black blotch at front of dorsal fin.

Reaches 29 cm.

Coral reefs.

Depth range: 10-120 m, usually below 20 m.

S Carolina to Brazil, and the E Atlantic.