Species Type:
Fishes
Common Name(s):
Rooster hogfish
Size:
Rooster hogfish reach a maximum length of 3 feet (0.91 m).
Diet:
Hogfish dig around the ocean floor for crustaceans and mollusks.
Range & Habitat:
In the western Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea, rooster hogfish can be found in open, sandy bottoms, coral reefs, and rocky areas.
Details:
Rooster hogfish are flat, oval-shaped fish with red eyes and scales that change color as they mature. Their dorsal fins and tail are high and pointed. Hogfish get their name because of their pig-like snouts and habit of rooting around the ocean floor for food, digging in the sand for crustaceans and mollusks with their long, beak-like snouts. Their strong, crushing teeth can easily break apart the shells of clams, crabs, and sea urchins. Rooster hogfish are flat, oval-shaped fish with red eyes and color-changing scales. Their high, pointed dorsal fins and tails stand out, as do their pig-like snouts, for which they get their name. Known for rooting around the ocean floor, they use their beak-like snouts to dig for crustaceans and mollusks. Their strong teeth crush the shells of clams, crabs, and sea urchins.