Porkfish (Anisotremus virginicus)
Key facts
- Scientific name
- Anisotremus virginicus
- Common name
- Porkfish
- Category
- Fish
- Family
- Haemulidae
- Genus
- Anisotremus
- Size
- 20–40 cm
- Depth
- 1–25 m
- IUCN status
- Least concern (LC)
- Danger level
- Harmless
- Habitats
- coral-reef, rocky-reef
- Behaviours
- solitary, pair, schooling
- Ocean zones
- Caribbean, Eastern Pacific
Description
Anisotremus virginicus reaches 40 cm. Imposing haemulid with bright golden-yellow body with 2 distinctive vertical black bars on face (eye and operculum), yellow fins. Juveniles in spectacular mimicry black and yellow resembling Pomacentridae. Lives solitary or in small groups from 1 to 25 m on coral and rocky reefs of Caribbean and tropical western Atlantic. Often observed at cleaning stations as cleaner juveniles. Iconic photo subject of Caribbean dives.
Photo of Porkfish
Frequently asked questions
- How big is the Porkfish?
- Porkfish (Anisotremus virginicus) reaches 20–40 cm in length.
- At what depth can you find the Porkfish?
- Porkfish is found between 1–25 m deep.
- Is the Porkfish dangerous to divers?
- Danger level: Harmless.
- What is the conservation status of the Porkfish?
- IUCN status: Least concern (LC).
- Where can you find the Porkfish?
- Found in: Caribbean, Eastern Pacific.
Other species in the genus Anisotremus
Other species in the family Haemulidae
- Haemulon flavolineatum - French grunt
- Haemulon sciurus - Bluestriped grunt
- Haemulon plumierii - White grunt
- Haemulon parra - Sailor's choice
- Haemulon aurolineatum - Tomtate grunt
- Plectorhinchus vittatus - Oriental sweetlips
Sources
- Taxonomy: WoRMS (AphiaID 279625)
- Photos: iNaturalist (CC BY-NC)
- Distribution: GBIF (taxonKey 2382596)
- Conservation: IUCN Red List
- Encyclopedia: Wikipedia