Axilspot Hogfish

Bodianus axillaris, commonly known as the axilspot hogfish, coral pigfish, or turncoat hogfish, is a species of wrasse that is native to the Indo-Pacific region.

This species exhibits sexual dimorphism, with adult males displaying a reddish-brown coloration on the front of their bodies, contrasting with a white posterior end. They also feature a prominent black spot at the base of their pectoral fin, as well as on the dorsal and anal fins. In contrast, females and juveniles have a blackish hue with white blotches along their upper and lower flanks. Juveniles of this species closely resemble those of the split-level hogfish (Bodianus mesothorax), but exhibit white spots instead of yellow ones. The axilspot hogfish typically grows to a standard length of 20 centimeters (7.9 inches).

This species can be found in the Indo-Pacific region, ranging from the 🌊 Red Sea to 🇿🇦 South Africa, and extending to the 🇲🇭 Marshall Islands, Marquesan Islands, Tuamoto Islands (🇵🇫 French Polynesia), and north to 🇯🇵 Japan.

Adult axilspot hogfish are commonly found in clear lagoons and along seaward reefs. They are particularly abundant in shallow, clear waters at depths ranging from 1 to 8 meters (3.3 to 26.2 feet). Occasionally, larger individuals may be found in deeper waters below 27 meters (89 feet). Juveniles of this species tend to inhabit caves or seek refuge under overhangs, where they often exhibit cleaner fish behavior. It is worth noting that adult hogfish may also display this behavior from time to time. The diet of the axilspot hogfish primarily consists of benthic, hard-shelled invertebrates such as molluscs and crustaceans. This species reproduces through the oviparous method, with males and females forming distinct pairs during spawning.

The axilspot hogfish is not commonly encountered in the aquarium trade and is not a species of interest to commercial fisheries.

This species was first formally described by the English zoologist Edward Turner Bennett as Labrus axillaris in 1832, and its type locality was specified as 🇲🇺 Mauritius.