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Related FAQs: Marine Life of the Tropical West
Atlantic, Tropical West Atlantic 2,
Related Articles: TWA Invertebrates, Algae,
Vascular Plants, Introduction to
Fishwatcher's Guide Series Pieces/Sections,
Lachnolaimus maxiumus/Hogfish,
Hogfishes of the Genus Bodianus,
The Tropical West Atlantic: Bahamas to Brazil, Part 7
To: Part 1,
Part 2, Part 3,
Part 4, Part 5,
Part 6, Part 8,
Part 9, Part 10,
Part 11, |
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| Bob Fenner | |
Wrasses, Labridae. Mirroring their importance and abundance on
the reef, the wrasses of the TWA make up a sizeable part of the pet-fish
shipped from there. These stalwarts are amongst the hobby’s "best" and
"most popular" animals. Ecotype: Several; mainly in shallow to
mid-depth reefs, associated with the bottom. Hogfish is the name
we apply to a group of the wrasses as an affectionate moniker describing
their appearance (and eating habits). Three of the best "hogs" in the
trade come from here; The Spotfin or Cuban Hogfish, Bodianus pulchellus
(1); Spanish Hogfish, B. rufus (1), and Highfin or "just" Hogfish,
Lachnolaimus maximus (1). The first two are facultative cleaners when
small, picking off ectoparasites and dead tissue from grateful hosts. Be
aware that these fish-only system wrasses get to be rambunctious when
larger (to 1,2 and 3 feet respectively). |
Bodianus pulchellus (Poey 1860), The Spotfin or Cuban Hogfish.
Tropical West Atlantic; South Carolina to Venezuela. To about
eleven inches total length. Exemplary aquarium species. Small (3"),
medium (5") and large (8") images of Bodianus pulchellus
(Poey 1860), the Cuban (Spotfin to science) Hogfish. All aquarium
images. |
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Bodianus rufus (Linnaeus 1758), the Spanish Hogfish. Western
Atlantic; Bermuda to Brazil. To sixteen inches maximum length. In the
wild eats mollusks, urchins, Brittlestars, crustaceans, and juveniles
act as facultative cleaners. Hardy aquarium species. Below: Medium (5")
and a large (16") and about same size mute-colored images of
Bodianus
rufus. Bahamas images. One inch juvenile at right in Cancun. | 
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Lachnolaimus maximus (Walbaum)
1792. Most often sold as the Long-Fin Hogfish is a real beauty from the
western Atlantic. It is unmistakable, distinguished by it's first three
greatly prolonged dorsal spines. Be aware if you pick one of these up
that they get BIG; Randall lists the largest he collected at 32 inches
and 14.4 pounds. Here are images of a ten inch juvenile in captivity and
a two foot specimen in the Grand Bahamas Channel. | 
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The Bluehead Wrasse, Thalassoma bifasciatum (2) is a staple item
in our livestock arsenal. This is actually the last or terminal phase of
the species; the yellow undifferentiated and female members that turn
into these green and blue bolts are rarely offered in the trade. In the
wild they exist in harems with one alpha male (photo), with the next
strongest female converting to a Bluehead for replacement. There
are several wrasses of the genus Halichoeres found in the TWA that are
suitable for aquarium use (especially when small). A few are
"old-timers" to the trade like the Pudding Wife, (H. radiatus)
(2) and Slippery Dick (H. bivittatus) (2). Others are welcome
newbies, like the Lightning or Yellowcheek (Halichoeres cyanocephalus)
(2) and Neon or Yellowhead (H. garnoti) (2). There are others
long-deserving of our attention. |
Halichoeres bivittatus (Bloch 1791), the Slippery Dick Wrasse
(2), is a standard item offered out of the tropical western Atlantic
and an anomaly to me. This fish is neither really very attractive or
relatively hardy in captivity. To almost nine inches in length.
Bahamas, Cozumel, St. Thomas pix of juvenile and initial phase
individuals below. Terminal/male phase at right in Bonaire. | 
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Halichoeres cyanocephalus (Bloch 1791), the Yellowcheek Wrasse. West
Atlantic. To six inches in length. This terminal phase individual off of
Cozumel. | 
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Halichoeres garnoti (Valenciennes 1839), the Yellowhead Wrasse
(1) is another new choice out of the tropical western Atlantic. To
about seven inches long. More and more available in the trade, and a
beauty. At right a terminal phase individual in Cozumel. Below are
images of juvenile, initial and terminal phase/male individuals.
Second in Cozumel, all others Bahamas. |
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Halichoeres maculipinna (Muller & Troschel 1848), the Clown
Wrasse. West Atlantic; Carolina to Brazil. To 18 cm. Initial phase
individual off of Cozumel and St. Thomas. |  
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Halichoeres pictus (Steindachner 1867), the Rainbow Wrasse.
Tropical west Atlantic; Florida to northern South America. To 13 cm.
in length. An initial phase individual and pair in Bonaire. |  
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Halichoeres poeyi (Poey 1860), the Rainbow Wrasse. Tropical west
Atlantic; Florida to northern South America. To 13 cm. in length.
Found in shallow muddy bays and grass beds. Photo at right of an
intermediate phase individual in the Bahamas. Below: Juvenile,
intermediate and terminal phases in St. Thomas. | 
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Halichoeres prosopeion (Bleeker 1853), the Two-tone Wrasse. Western
Pacific. To five inches in length. An occasional import from a few
countries. N. Sulawesi, Fiji and Australian photographs of very young,
juvenile and adult. |
Halichoeres radiatus (Linnaeus 1758), the Puddingwife Wrasse (2), is
another old standard from the tropical west Atlantic. Good looking when
young, keep in mind this fish grows to twenty inches in the wild.
Juveniles in Cozumel, sub-adults in St. Lucia and Cancun, Initial Phase
off Cozumel. 2, 3, four, five and twelve inches respectively, and one
off Bonaire. No terminal phase pic? |
This is a wrasse? The genus Clepticus: |
Genus Clepticus: Here is another species we’ll mention, the
Creole Wrasse, Clepticus parrae (Bloch & Schneider 1801) (3),
simply because it (mis)enters the trade from time to time. This reef
roamer is not often identified as a wrasse at all, as it cruises
above the reefs of the tropical western Atlantic. The Creole Wrasse
almost always dies in route from being shipped from the wild. To one
foot in length. This one in Cancun, Mexico. | 
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Lastly, a quick mention of the wrasses, like the Pacific Dragon or Rock
Mover, called Razorfish. The ornamental marine livestock industry
generally sells these TWA sand divers as generic "Razorfish",
Xyrichtys sp. (2). These need a thick sand bottom to dig in. |
Xyrichthys martinicensis Valenciennes 1849, the Rosy Razorfish.
West Atlantic; Florida to South America. To six inches in total
length. A terminal phase (male) individual here off Cozumel, and
initial and terminal phase individuals below in Bonaire. | 
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Xyrichthys splendens Castelnau 1855, the Green Razorfish. Tropical
West Atlantic; Bermuda to Brazil. To a mere seven inches in length.
Commonly found in seagrass beds and surrounding sandy areas. Terminal
phase aquarium image at right. Below, juvenile, initial phase/female and
terminal phase/male off of Cozumel Island, Mexico. 4-30 feet. | 
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To: Part 1,
Part 2, Part 3, Part
4, Part 5, Part 6,
Part 8, Part 9,
Part 10, Part 11,
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