BODIANUS LOXOZONUS - (SNYDER, 1908)
Picture courtesy of: Gloup Noumea
Labre à nageoires noires, Vieille à nageoires noires, Blackfin hogfish, Blackfin pigfish, Blackfin wrasse, Eclipse hogfish, Rainbow fish, Reef pigfish, Hiregurobera, ヒレグロベラ, 斜带狐鲷, 斜帶普提魚,
Synonymes
Bodianus loxozonus loxozonus (Snyder, 1908)
Lepidaplois loxozonus (Snyder, 1908)
Lepidaplois trotteri (Fowler & Bean, 1923)
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Description
Dorsal spines (total): 12; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 12-13; Caudal-fin rays: 9-10; Pectoral-fin rays: 2, 15; Lateral-line scales: 31-32; Scales above lateral line: 5-5½; Scales below lateral line: ≈11½-12½; Predorsal scales: ≈17-22. Scales on lower jaw in elongate patch reaching anteriorly beyond angle of mouth, usually to below posterior 1⁄3 of mouth, scales usually not confluent with cheek scales, sometimes not continuous with scales on subopercle, when interrupted subopercular scales usually terminating anteriorly below forward end of ventral preopercular edge. Upper jaw with prominent anterior canines of similar size or with first canine slightly smaller than second, latter most often in smaller specimens; Both canines directed ventrally in small specimens, first angled more and more anteroventrally and second slightly laterally in larger specimens; Several tiny teeth on dental ridge in small specimens, teeth best developed posteriorly; Larger specimens with teeth more prominent, especially posteriorly; Some individuals with up to 4 nearly free canines posteriorly on reduced dental ridge; 1-2 (usually 1) prominent canines of moderate to moderately small size directed anteroventrally at posterior end of jaw, posterior canines directed slightly laterally in large specimens. Lower jaw with first prominent anterior canine ≈2⁄3 size of second; Both canines directed mostly dorsally, anterior canines slanted mesially; First canine directed more anterodorsally in large specimens, second slightly laterally; Dental ridge on anterior 1⁄5-1⁄3 and occasionally more of jaw with few tiny teeth; 2 series of caniniform teeth posteriorly in single row, first with 3-9 moderately short teeth (usually about 7) becoming progressively longer posteriorly, second with 1-8 (usually about 5) equally short teeth at posterior end of jaw. Very large specimens with several rows of tiny rounded teeth formed on inner face of dental ridge posteromesial to anterior canine of lower jaw. Caudal fin truncate or barely rounded, dorsal and ventral rays produced into narrow elongate tapering lobes in adults; Upper lobe longest, reaching more than 1.5 times length of middle rays in largest specimens. Pelvic fin elongate, posterior tip reaching beyond anus, reaching base of second anal fin spine in one specimen. Max. length: 47.0 cm TL. Depth range: 3 - 100 m, usually: 3 - 40 m.
Color
- Juveniles: anterior half of body reddish orange with black undersurface, posterior half with two broad black bands and a snow white interspace, covering anterior half of caudal peduncle; Anterior black band covering posterior half of dorsal fin dorsally and entire anal fin ventrally; Anterior half of dorsal fin reddish orange; Caudal fin snow white; Pectoral fin transparent; Pelvic fins black.
- Initial-phase adults: reddish brown dorsally, white to bluish white ventrally; Numerous narrow pale blue stripes formed from series of horizontally elongate spots (spot on each body scale) on back and scaly base of dorsal fin, stripes continuing onto head as distinct pale blue horizontal lines terminating on snout and upper jaw; Spots and stripes becoming broader and whiter ventrally, manifested as pale ground color; Narrow interspaces between stripes and rows of spots golden yellow to orange, appearing as yellowish orange stripes; Irregular golden yellow stripes and spots directed anterodorsally on ventral half of head; Nearly vertical to diagonal broad black band posteriorly on body originating dorsally on posterior third of scaled dorsal fin base and terminating ventrally on lower surface of caudal peduncle; Dorsal end of band continuing little onto dorsalfin membrane; Caudal peduncle posterior to band snow white. Dorsal fin yellowish orange with large black spot between first 3-4 spines; Broad pale blue midlateral stripe on spinous portion of fin; Numerous fine diagonal lines on soft portion. Posterior tip of fin mostly transparent. Membranous portion of anal fin mostly orange with posteriorly tapering broad black marginal band and several narrow pale blue stripes or series of spots superimposed; Scaly base of fin golden orange with bluish white centers to scales as on adjacent portion of side. Caudal fin snow white. Pectoral fins whitish to transparent. Pelvic fin black with pale blue on bases of segmented rays in large specimens.
- Terminal-phase adults: as described for initial-phase adults, except snow white area directly behind black band restricted to small saddle on dorsal half of caudal peduncle, black band becoming diffuse ventrally, remainder of caudal peduncle posterior to dark band with orange and white stripes. Caudal fin orange, often with tiny distinct orange spots on translucent membrane distally.
Etymology
Bodianus: after Bodiano or Pudiano, from the Portuguese pudor, meaning modesty (Jordan & Evermann, 1896).
loxozonus: from Greek, loxos = slanting, crosswise, oblique + from ancient Greek, zonē = zone, belt, girdle. Referring to the prominent black oblique band posteriorly on the body of adults of this species.
Original description: Lepidaplois loxozonus Snyder, 1908 - Type locality: Naha market, Okinawa Island, Ryukyu Islands, Japan.
Distribution
Western Pacific: Queensland (Australia), east to Marshall Islands, Marquesas Islands, Tuamotu Archipelago and Austral Islands, north to Kagoshima Prefecture (southern Japan), south to New Caledonia and Tonga.
Biology
Adults inhabit clear lagoon and seaward reefs, on slopes or along upper part of drop-offs. Feed mainly on benthic, hard-shelled, invertebrates such as mollusks and crustaceans. Oviparous, distinct pairing during breeding. Considerable changes in color pattern with growth and sexual development occur in individuals of this species, but there may also be a consistent geographical difference between individuals occurring in the eastern and western portions of its overall distribution.
Similar species
Bodianus albotaeniatus (Valenciennes, 1839) - Reported from Central Pacific: Johnston Atoll and Hawaiian Islands.
Bodianus bilunulatus (Lacepède, 1801) - Reported from New Caledonia - Link to the species (here).
Bodianus macrourus (Lacepède, 1801) - Reported from Western Indian Ocean: Madagascar, Saint Brandon's Shoals (Cargados Carajos), Mascarenes (La Réunion, Mauritius, Rodrigues).
Last update: 31, March 2023
Bodianus: after Bodiano or Pudiano, from the Portuguese pudor, meaning modesty (Jordan & Evermann, 1896).
loxozonus: from Greek, loxos = slanting, crosswise, oblique + from ancient Greek, zonē = zone, belt, girdle. Referring to the prominent black oblique band posteriorly on the body of adults of this species.
Original description: Lepidaplois loxozonus Snyder, 1908 - Type locality: Naha market, Okinawa Island, Ryukyu Islands, Japan.
Distribution
Western Pacific: Queensland (Australia), east to Marshall Islands, Marquesas Islands, Tuamotu Archipelago and Austral Islands, north to Kagoshima Prefecture (southern Japan), south to New Caledonia and Tonga.
Biology
Adults inhabit clear lagoon and seaward reefs, on slopes or along upper part of drop-offs. Feed mainly on benthic, hard-shelled, invertebrates such as mollusks and crustaceans. Oviparous, distinct pairing during breeding. Considerable changes in color pattern with growth and sexual development occur in individuals of this species, but there may also be a consistent geographical difference between individuals occurring in the eastern and western portions of its overall distribution.
Similar species
Bodianus albotaeniatus (Valenciennes, 1839) - Reported from Central Pacific: Johnston Atoll and Hawaiian Islands.
Bodianus bilunulatus (Lacepède, 1801) - Reported from New Caledonia - Link to the species (here).
Bodianus macrourus (Lacepède, 1801) - Reported from Western Indian Ocean: Madagascar, Saint Brandon's Shoals (Cargados Carajos), Mascarenes (La Réunion, Mauritius, Rodrigues).
Last update: 31, March 2023