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The largest member of this family reaches over 30 inches
in the wild but the maximum size of a hogfish is 2 to 3 pounds. These
fish are in the same family as Wrasse, and are closely related to
Parrotfish. Hogfish can be recognized by their elongated snout,
protruding lips, and sharp teeth. Hogfish are found in tropical waters
around the world, and are most commonly associated with coral reefs,
rocky outcrops, or lagoons. Depending on the age of the fish, most
Hogfish are found in groups, or as solitary individuals.
Like a few other marine fish, most Hogfish go through a drastic color change from juvenile to adult form. They were given a little tool called chromatophores that allow them to change colors, often depending on their behavior, such as feeding or looking for a mat Hogfish feed on small fish, shellfish, and crustaceans. Esteemed as a food fish in some areas, but has been implicated in ciguatera; usually marketed as Hog Snapper |
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