Bodianus rufus (Linnaeus, 1758)

Species Identification

The Spanish hogfish, scientifically named Bodianus rufus, is a species of wrasse native to the western Atlantic Ocean.

Geographic Range

Its distribution ranges from North Carolina and Bermuda, through the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico, to southern Brazil.

Habitat

This species inhabits coral or rock reefs at depths between 1 and 70 meters, or 3.3 to 229.7 feet.

Feeding Ecology

Adult Spanish hogfish prey on molluscs including snails, mussels, and squid, crustaceans including Mysis and brine shrimp, echinoderms including brittle stars and sea urchins, worms, and small fish, while juvenile Spanish hogfish act as cleaner fishes.

Size

This species can grow to a total length of 40 centimeters (16 inches), though most individuals do not grow larger than 28 centimeters (11 inches).

Human Relevance

Bodianus rufus is of minor importance to local commercial fisheries, and is also sold in the aquarium trade.

Taxonomic History

When Marcus Elieser Bloch established the genus Bodianus, he designated B. bodianus as the type species of the genus; this taxon is now considered a junior synonym of Bodianus rufus.