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Blackspot pigfish (Bodianus vulpinus) — Labridae

Blackspot pigfish

Bodianus vulpinus
Family: Labridae
NE · Not Evaluated

The Blackspot pigfish (Bodianus vulpinus) is a saltwater fish of the family Labridae that grows up to 44 cm.

Length
43.5 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
100.0–250.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Rarely eaten

Description

The blackspot pigfish is a wrasse from the southern Indian and southwest Pacific oceans, around southern Australia and adjacent waters. The species grows to about 44 cm and has an oblong, pink to reddish body with a yellow tinge and often a dark spot on the dorsal fin. As a dweller of deeper reef and rocky bottoms, between about 100 and 250 metres, it uses strong teeth to search for molluscs, crustaceans and sea urchins. Like many wrasses it is a protogynous hermaphrodite. The fish is harmless to humans. The IUCN has not evaluated the species.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Blackspot pigfish?

The Blackspot pigfish has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly red-orange and shows a spots pattern.

Where does the Blackspot pigfish live?

The Blackspot pigfish lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground.

How big does the Blackspot pigfish get?

The Blackspot pigfish grows to a maximum of about 44 cm.

Is the Blackspot pigfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Blackspot pigfish is harmless to humans.

Is the Blackspot pigfish edible?

The Blackspot pigfish is rarely eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Zwartvlek-varkenslipvis verified
English name
Blackspot pigfish verified
Scientific name
Bodianus vulpinus
Family
Labridae
Other names
Red pigfish; Vulpine pigfish; Western Australia pigfish; Western blackspot pigfish; Western pigfish verified

Appearance

Size class
Large verified
Max length (cm)
43.5 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Red / orange sourced
Pattern
Spots sourced
Tail shape
Rounded inferred
Mouth position
Terminal sourced
Lips
Thick / fleshy sourced
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous sourced
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
100.0 verified
Max depth (m)
250.0 verified
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Solitary sourced
Territorial
No sourced
Activity
Diurnal sourced
Reproduction
Protogynous (female first) sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Rarely eaten sourced
Fishing method
Vissen met natuurlijk aas (vis, garnaal, worm) of kunstaas dicht bij rif- en rotsstructuren. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Bodianus

More from the family Labridae

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