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CURRENT MOON
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HOGFISH - Lachnolaimus maximus Family Labridae, WRASSES
Description: body deep, strongly compressed; color varies, but
never bi-colored; usually reddish, sometimes bright brick red;
soft dorsal fin with a large dark spot at base; entire top of
head nape purplish brown in large males; this patch of
color continuous with blackish area that extends along
entire base of dorsal fin; large blackish crescent
through base of caudal fin; pelvic fin with dusky tip;
14 spines in dorsal fin - first 3 elongate, bladelike;
rays at front of soft dorsal and anal fins and lower
lobes of caudal fin elongate; mouth very
protrusible.
Young: greenish or brownish, mottled with dark.
Size: to 91 cm (3ft.).
Remarks: esteemed as a food fish in some areas, but has been
implicated in ciguatera; usually marketed as Hog Snapper.
