Cook Islands Biodiversity & Natural Heritage
 

Bodianus axillaris

Axilspot Hogfish

Multimedia & Additional Resources

Type Description Download
Open this image in pop-up window Image: Sudan, 11cm TL, Adult 43KB

General Information

COMMON NAMES: Axilspot Hogfish, Black-spot Hogfish, Black-spot Pigfish, Coral Hogfish, Turncoat Hogfish; German Achselfleck-Schweinslippfisch; French Labre à Tache Axillaire, Labre à Tache Pectorale

GLOBAL DISTRIBUTION: NATIVE e.Africa - Pitcairn; n to s.Japan; s. to New Caledonia - Rapa

COOK ISLANDS STATUS: Native; In clear lagoons and outer reef-slopes 5m to 40m. PLUS: ; Marine, near-shore, outer reef-slope below 10m

SIGNIFICANCE LIST: Not eaten.

KEY FEATURES: To 15cm, shape 3 depth in length. Appearance changes dramatically with age. JUVENILE brown to black with a white snout and four pairs of large white spots on the body. ADULTS red anterior, white posterior with yellow tail; black spot at base of pertoral fins, and one each on hind-section of Dorsal and Anal fins.

Enlarged Image of 'Bodianus axillaris'

Cook Islands Distribution

View Distribution Map View Distribution Map

Southern Group: Present    Makatea:
RR 
MG
AT
MK
MT
AK
PL
TK
MN
+

Northern Group: Present
TN 
MH
RK
PK
NS
SW
P

Key to Symbols

Scientific Taxonomy

Bodianus axillaris (Bennett, 1832)
SYNONYMS: Labrus axillaris [O]; Lepidaplois axillaris

TAXONOMY: ANIMALIA; CHORDATA; GNATHOSTOMATA (Jawed Vertebrates); PISCES; OSTEICHTHYES; Perciformes; Labroidei; LABRIDAE, Hypsigenyini

More Information

GENERAL NOTE: Juveniles hide in caves and overhangs acting as cleaners of other fishes.

Vouchers & References

Vouchers:
Pukapuka: fieldspecimen+photo, 2/2004, G.McCormack with ID as Bodianus axillaris.

References:
text p.176 Myers (1991 2nd Ed.) Fishes of Micronesia
plate 88c Myers (1991 2nd Ed.) Fishes of Micronesia
p.298 Randall et al. (1990) Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef....
p.426 Burgess et al. (1988) Atlas of Marine Aquarium Fishes (TFH)
plate 90-04 Lieske & Myers (1996) Coral Reef Fishes
plate 70-05 Allen (1997) Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia....

Data Update History (information):
zTX, zB02, zM02, zD02

Web Resources

Citation Information

McCormack, Gerald (2007) Cook Islands Biodiversity Database, Version 2007.2. Cook Islands Natural Heritage Trust, Rarotonga. Online at http://cookislands.bishopmuseum.org. Copy citation to system clipboard
Please refer to our use policy.


Search Biodiversity Database Biodiversity Database

More Options | Help
My List My List

 

 


Copyright © 2007 (July) The Cook Islands Natural Heritage Trust, all rights reserved.
Copyright & Use Policy