Decodon puellaris
A western Atlantic wrasse, type species of genus Decodon.
Decodon puellaris, the red hogfish, is a marine ray-finned fish in the wrasse family Labridae, found in the western Atlantic Ocean. It serves as the type species for the genus Decodon, a designation made by Albert Günther in 1861.
The species was first described in 1860 as *Cossyphus puellaris* by Cuban zoologist Felipe Poey, who gave Havana as the type locality. Günther created the genus *Decodon* the following year and selected this fish as its type species.
Its range extends from Cape Fear, North Carolina, south along the U.S. Atlantic coast and around Bermuda. It also occurs in the Bahamas, throughout the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea, and continues south along the South American coast to Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
The red hogfish has an elongated, laterally compressed body with a thick-lipped, protrusible mouth. Adults have four protruding front teeth in the upper jaw and two in the lower. The dorsal fin has a smooth profile without a notch, with ten spines and nine to ten soft rays. The anal fin has three spines and ten rays. The lateral line is arched and unbroken, with 27 to 29 scales.
Adults are red above and whitish below, with three yellow stripes on the head: one along the top lip, one from the lower eye margin to the lower gill cover, and one from the snout through the eye to the top of the gill cover. Yellow lines on the body come from spots on the scales, and similar lines run along the bases of the dorsal and anal fins. The caudal fin has yellow upper and outer margins. Juveniles are red with a large black eye spot in the center of the last few dorsal fin spines and a small black spot on top of the caudal peduncle. They can reach 30 centimeters (12 inches) in total length.
This species prefers rocky substrates and is associated with islands, living at depths between 18 and 275 meters (59 to 902 feet). It is a carnivore, feeding on mobile benthic worms, mollusks, and bony fish. Its eggs and larvae are pelagic.
Red hogfish are collected for human consumption, but the extent of this harvest and its impact on local populations is unknown.
Quick Facts
- Taxon
- Decodon puellaris
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Decodon puellaris was first described in 1860 as Cossyphus puellaris by Cuban zoologist Felipe Poey, with the type locality given as Havana. In 1861, British-German ichthyologist Albert Günther created the genus Decodon and designated Cossyphus puellaris as its type species. The species ranges from Cape Fear in North Carolina southwards along the Atlantic coast of the United States and around Bermuda, through the Bahamas, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean Sea, continuing south along the coasts of South America to Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil. It prefers rock substrates and is associated with islands, occurring at depths between 18 and 275 meters. Adults are red above and whitish below, with three yellow stripes on the head and yellow spots on the body scales; juveniles are red with a large black eye spot in the dorsal fin and a small black spot on the caudal peduncle. The species is carnivorous, feeding on mobile benthic worms, molluscs, and bony fish, and its eggs and larvae are pelagic.
Reader's Guide
Decodon puellaris holds significance as the type species of the genus Decodon, established by Albert Günther in 1861, anchoring the taxonomic framework for related wrasses. Its description by Felipe Poey in 1860 from Havana adds historical context to Caribbean ichthyology. The species is collected for human consumption, though the extent of this harvest and its effects on local populations are not known, highlighting a gap in conservation data. Its wide distribution from North Carolina to Brazil, across diverse habitats including rock substrates near islands, and its depth range of 18 to 275 meters, illustrate its ecological adaptability. The red hogfish's distinctive coloration—red with yellow stripes and spots in adults, and a black eye spot in juveniles—aids in identification. Its carnivorous diet of benthic invertebrates and fish, along with pelagic eggs and larvae, contributes to its role in marine food webs. The species' presence in both Atlantic and Caribbean waters underscores its biogeographic importance.
Did You Know?
- Decodon puellaris was originally described as Cossyphus puellaris by Felipe Poey in 1860.
- It is the type species of the genus Decodon, created by Albert Günther in 1861.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Decodon puellaris?
The red hogfish is a western Atlantic ray-finned wrasse in the family Labridae, recognized as the type species for the genus Decodon.
Where can I find Decodon puellaris in the wild?
Its range stretches from Cape Fear, North Carolina, southward along the U.S. Atlantic seaboard, around Bermuda, and into the Bahamas. It has been recorded at depths between roughly 18 and 275 meters.
How big does Decodon puellaris get?
A fully grown red hogfish reaches a maximum total length of about 30 centimeters, or 12 inches.
Who originally described Decodon puellaris?
Cuban naturalist Felipe Poey named the species Cossyphus puellaris in 1860, citing Havana as the type locality. Albert Günther then erected the genus Decodon the following year and designated this fish as its type species.
How many dorsal-fin spines does Decodon puellaris have?
The red hogfish carries ten spines in its dorsal fin, a trait consistent with other members of the labrid wrasse family.
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