Species Type:
Fishes
Common Name(s):
Porkfish
Size:
Porkfish grow to a maximum length of 15 inches (38 centimeters).
Diet:
Porkfish are "cleaner fish", feeding on dead skin and parasites found on other marine organisms.
Range & Habitat:
In the Gulf of Mexico, western Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea, Porkfish can be found in shallow coastal reefs and rocky bottoms.
Details:
Porkfish have small, flat, silvery-white bodies with two black stripes running from their dorsal fins to their bellies and yellow highlights on their tails, fins, and snouts. They get their name from the grunting sounds they make by grinding their pharyngeal teeth, similar to a pig’s grunt. Juvenile porkfish act as cleaner fish, removing parasites from larger marine species.