Genus: Decodon, Hogfishes, Red Hogfish Wrasse, Wrasses
elongate
D XI
LL complete, smoothly arched, 27-29
DECODON
WRASSES, HOGFISHES
Moderately elongate, compressed; mouth protrusible, opens at front, thick lips; rear of top jawbone not visible on cheek; toothed grinding plates in throat; a pair of canines at front of top and bottom jaws, a canine tooth at rear of top jaw; gill membranes fused under throat; dorsal fin XI spines, not obviously notched between spiny and soft parts; anal fin III, 10; lateral line unbroken, smoothly arched; scales large, 27-29 on lateral line; scales extend forward on head before eyes; preopercle completely scaled.
There are 4 species in this genus, which occurs in the western Atlantic, western Indian Ocean, western Pacific and eastern Pacific. One W Atlantic species in our region.
