Golden-spot hogfish
📖 Overview
This species is reported to be found on deep offshore reefs as adults, but juveniles may occur as shallow as 9 m . Also, adults inhabit the vicinity of coral and rocky reefs, often over sand or rubble in deeper water. Feed mainly on benthic invertebrates such as mollusks and crustaceans . Oviparous, distinct pairing during breeding . An excellent food fish .
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal spines (total): 12; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 11. This species is distinguished by the following characters: D XII,10; A III,11; pectoral rays 17; lateral line smoothly curved, following the dorsal contour of body, lateral pored scales 30-31; scales above origin of lateral line to origin of dorsal fin 8; small predorsal scales, becoming embedded anteriorly, ending in posterior interorbital; cheek with a patch of very small scales, posterior to center of eye, except for the broad naked flange of the preopercle; without scales on lower jaw; a broad sheath of scales basally on median fins; total gill rakers 20-23; dorsal profile of snout to above eye is straight, becoming smoothly convex on nape; snout length 2.7-3.0 in head length (HL); orbit diameter varying from 4.7 in HL in an 8.8-cm specimen to 9.3 in a 43.0-cm specimen; mouth is slightly oblique, forming an angle of about 20° to horizontal axis of body, the maxilla reaching to below anterior half of eye; front of jaws with 2 pairs of canine teeth that interdigitate when mouth closed, the middle pair of upper jaw and lateral pair of lower jaw are the largest and recurved, the middle pair of lower jaw about half length of lateral pair; side of jaws with a dental ridge of coalesced teeth bearing a row of small, stout, close-set, conical teeth, of which a series of 5 or 6 in middle of jaws are the largest; toothless palate; labial flaps are well-developed; dorsal spines progressively longer, with the last spine 2.0-2.2 in HL, the membranes deeply incised; 7th or 8th dorsal soft ray longest, 2.0-2.1 in HL; 3rd anal spine longest, about 2.0-2.4 in HL; caudal fin of juveniles is truncate, of adults double emarginate with long pointed lobes; pectoral-fin length of 15.9-32.0 cm SL individuals, 3.4-3.8 in SL, the fin length proportionately longer with growth; pelvic fins just reaching anus in 8.8-cm juvenile, reaching beyond third anal spine in a 36.0-cm adult; diagnostic color differences from B. astrolumbus include the central white bar of the juvenile diminishing to an oval yellow spot above the lateral line (vs. a spindle-shaped whitish to pink mark on the upper body extending below the lateral line (vs. ) and the caudal peduncle of the juvenile with a central white patch surrounded by dark (vs. a white bar extending full width) .: fusiform / normal; Cross section: compressed.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Golden-spot hogfish is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
🥚 Reproduction
Oviparous, distinct pairing during breeding .
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Marine; reef-associated; non-migratory; depth range 10 - 120 m . Subtropical Pacific Ocean: antiequatorial; Taiwan to southern Japan; Australia to French Polynesia.
🌿 Ecology
benthic invertebrates such as mollusks and crustaceans (Ref
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🎣 Angling Guide
- medium-heavy 7ft spinning rod
- 30-50 lb braid
- fluorocarbon leader
- grass flats
- oyster bars
- marsh drains
- deeper channel edges
Use barbless hooks, minimise air exposure, and revive fish head-first in current before release.
⚠️ Slot limits protect breeding-size fish. Verify daily bag limits.
🍽️ Edibility & Flavour
"Golden-spot hogfish is an edible species."
- Clear, bright eyes — cloudy eyes indicate age
- Firm flesh that springs back when pressed
- Fresh ocean smell, never strong or ammonia-like
- Bright red or pink gills, not grey or brown
- Shiny, moist skin with scales tightly attached
- Cloudy or sunken eyes
- Strong fishy or ammonia odour
- Soft, mushy flesh that doesn't spring back
- Discoloured or dry flesh
⚡ Nutrition
Per 100g cooked - Source: USDA FoodData Central
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Protein | 19.5 g |
| Omega-3 (total) | 212 mg |
🔬 Mercury Safety
Mercury data for Golden-spot hogfish has not yet been assigned. Please consult FDA/EPA guidance for general seafood safety advice.
🌿 Sustainability
🔬 Full Nutritional Profile
Per 100g - Raw, per 100g - Source: USDA FoodData Central templates (generic fish average)
📊 Population Dynamics
| Year | Region | Index | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | - | - |
🌐 Names & Taxonomy
| Language | Common Names |
|---|---|
| 🇬🇧English | Golden-spot Hogfish · Golden-spot Pig-fish · Golden-spot Pigfish · Golden-spot Wrasse · golden-spot-hogfish · Goldenspot Hogfish · goldenspot pigfish · Goldsaddle Hogfish · Goldspot Hogfish · Goldspot Hogfish, Golden-spot hogfish · Goldspot Pigfish · Orange Threadfin Tuskfish · Pigfish |
| 🌍AFR | Goudsaal-varkvis |
| 🌍CES | pyskoun zlatoskvrnný |
| 🇫🇷French | Kavakava · Labre banane · Labre de la perdition · Labre de la perdition, Perroquet banane · Perroquet Banane |
| 🇯🇵Japanese | Takibera · タキベラ |
| 🇵🇹Portuguese | Bodião de Perdição |
| 🇷🇺Russian | Золотопятнистый бодиан |
| 🇪🇸Spanish | Doncella de Lunar Dorado |
| 🇨🇳Chinese | 三齒仔 · 日本婆仔 · 汕散仔 · 瀧暹羅 · 紅娘仔 · 紅寒鯛 · 黃斑狐鯛 |
Scientific Synonyms
| Scientific Name | Author | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cossyphus aurifer | De Vis | 1884 | Synonym |
| Cossyphus latro | De Vis | 1885 | Synonym |
| Labrus perditio | Quoy & Gaimard | 1834 | Synonym |
| Lepidaplois perditio | Quoy & Gaimard | 1834 | Synonym |
| Trochocopus sanguinolentus | De Vis | 1883 | Synonym |
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 11 records indexed .
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