They’re As Odd As They Sound

Learn More About These Opportunistic Feeders

Catfish, Lionfish, and Frogfish are known to us, but what about Hogfish? Large fish that are native to the Gulf of Mexico and the Western Atlantic Ocean are known as hogfish (Lachnolaimus maximus). They are a sought-after catch for anglers that fish for fun.

Here are some of the most interesting facts about these unique creatures-

Their noses give them their name
In Spanish, the common name for Hogfish is “doncella de pluma,” which means “feathered maiden.”

Hogfish get their name from their elongated snouts. The purpose of this long nose is to assist them in foraging for food. One of the best places to find hogfish, which love to eat crustaceans and mollusks, is buried in the sand on the seafloor. They burrow into the sand with their snouts in a behavior called rooting, searching for these crunchy creatures to eat.

Hogfish are gender-fluid.
They are hermaphrodites, which means that when they reach a larger size, they can transform into males instead of females. Hogfish also form small fish harems, in which one male mates with multiple females.

A distinctive black spot behind the pectoral fins distinguishes males more than females .Females are pale brown or grey, while males are brighter red or orange.

Sadly, Hogfish are endangered.
Hogfish have been observed to live for as long as 11 years. These fish are incredibly charismatic, but they are also overfished in a portion of their range, which includes the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean Sea, North Carolina, Bermuda, and the northern tip of South America.

There is a rebuilding plan in place to bring the overfished stock back to healthy levels, and fishery managers in the United States have implemented measures for fishermen looking to catch Hogfish.