Nature Field Guide
Mexican Hogfish
- Spanish name
- Vieja mexicana
- Scientific name
- Bodianus diplotaenia
What Do Pico & Tati Think?
Pico: “Its tail looks dipped in yellow!”
Tati: “The stripes and sturdy body help us recognize this color phase.”
Species overview
About the Mexican Hogfish
Initial-phase fish are reddish with two dark lengthwise stripes and yellow toward the tail. Large terminal males become blue-green with a reddish head and a yellowish side bar.
It searches reef habitat for small bottom animals. Its powerful jaws suit this feeding style. Large males can develop a forehead hump, so different ages may look surprisingly unlike one another.
Identification
Key Features of the Mexican Hogfish
Robust wrasse body
Two dark stripes in initial phase
Yellow tail in initial phase
Habitat & range
Pacific rocky reefs and nearby coastal marine habitats. Check the linked species reference for its wider range.
Local observations
Recorded at Cabo Blanco.
When to observe
Visibility depends on water clarity, currents, depth and conditions. No fixed local viewing or migration season is assigned.
Conservation & care
Observe with a qualified guide. Do not feed, chase or handle fish. Keep fins off the reef and take all litter home.
Threats & pressures
Habitat damage and degraded water quality are pressures to prevent in coastal fish habitats. This profile does not quantify a local decline.
Observation activity
Find photographs of two color phases and list three features that change.
Explore by location
Guanacaste · Puntarenas & the Gulf Islands · South Pacific · Ocean & Coastal Life