Spotfin Hogfish (Bodianus pulchellus)

Adult Spotfin hogfish have a red body separated by an incomplete white stripe in the bottom 1/3rd. The top 2/3rds and the rear of the caudal fin is yellow. The tip of the pectoral fin is tipped in black. In juveniles, the body is dark maroon to blackish with a more complete white stripe. The caudal fin and caudal sections of the dorsal and anal fin are yellow.

This fish inhabits rocky areas or coral reefs of the Western Atlantic from South Carolina and the Bahamas to northern South America and west through the northern Gulf of Mexico. They tend to occupy the shallower waters down to 75 feet. They like to feed on crabs and small shellfish. Juveniles actively pick parasites from larger fishes.

The family of hogfish are members of the Wrasse family, but because of their different shapes they have been given their own name. These fish are known for their rooting behavior, which lends to their name Hogfish. They will sometimes burrow beneath the sand when frightened.