Adults inhabit clear lagoon and seaward reefs ; common in clear shallow waters at 1-8 m; large individuals occasionally at greater depths below 27 m . Juveniles occur solitary in caves or under ledges and act as cleaners by picking at bodies of other fishes (adults occasionally do this) ; occurring regularly at depths of 14-26 m . Feed mainly on benthic, hard-shelled, invertebrates such as mollusks and crustaceans . Oviparous, distinct pairing during breeding . Not commonly marketed. Occasionally seen in the aquarium trade.
Dorsal spines (total): 12; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9 - 10; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 12 - 13. Juveniles and females easily recognized by the generally black body with large white spots; males have large black spots on the soft parts of the dorsal and anal fins . Juveniles resemble the juveniles of B. mesothorax but have white rather than yellow spots. Undergoes a dramatic color change with growth.: fusiform / normal; Cross section: compressed.
Behavioural data for Axilspot hogfish is currently being reviewed.
Oviparous, distinct pairing during breeding .
Marine; reef-associated; depth range 2 - 100 m , usually 2 - 40 m . Tropical; 24°C - 27°C ; 32°N - 32°S South Africa (Ref.
benthic, hard-shelled, invertebrates such as mollusks and crustaceans (Ref
| Language | Common Names |
|---|---|
| 🇬🇧English | Axil hogfish · Axil Pigfish · Axilspot hogfish · Bicolor Wrasse · Coral hogfish · Coral Pigfish · Panda Hogfish · Polkadot wrasse · turncoat hogfish |
| 🏳️Catalan | Làbrid bicolor |
| 🌍CES | ostnatec pažďoskvrnný |
| 🇩🇰Danish | Treplettet læbefisk |
| 🇩🇪German | Zweifleck-Schweinslippfisch |
| 🌍DIV | Hikaa |
| 🇫🇷French | Labre à tache pectorale · Labre bicolore · Tamarin |
| 🌍HEB | הדורית נקודת-ארבע |
| 🇮🇹Italian | Pesce porco puntinato |
| 🇯🇵Japanese | Sumitsukibera · スミツキベラ |
| 🇵🇹Portuguese | Bodião-axilar |
| 🇷🇺Russian | Чернопятнистый бодиан |
| 🇪🇸Spanish | Doncella Bicolor |
| 🌍TAH | po'ou |
| 🌍THA | ปลานกขุนทองหน้าหมูจุดดำ |
| 🇨🇳Chinese | 三齒仔 · 日本婆仔 · 紅娘仔 · 腋斑寒鯛 · 腋斑普提魚 · 腋斑普提鱼 · 腋斑狐鯛 |
| Scientific Name | Author | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cossyphus axillaris | Valenciennes | 1839 | Synonym |
| Cossyphus octomaculatus | Liénard | 1891 | Synonym |
| Crossyphus octomaculatus | Sauvage | 1891 | Synonym |
| Labrus axillaris | Bennett | 1832 | Synonym |
| Lepidaplois albomaculatus | Smith | 1957 | Synonym |
| Lepidaplois axillaris | Bennett | 1832 | Synonym |
The following diseases are known to affect Axilspot hogfish.
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 3 records indexed .
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