Saddleback Hogfish

Bodianus bilunulatus

The bastard hogfish (Bodianus bilunulatus), also known as the saddleback hogfish, is a species of wrasse in the family Labridae. Adults reach up to 55 cm with a white to yellowish-white body and a large black saddle marking on the posterior portion. Juveniles are strikingly different, often showing a bright yellow and black pattern. This species inhabits coral reefs and lagoons at depths of 5-60 meters throughout the Indo-Pacific, from East Africa to Hawaii. They are typically solitary, feeding on sea urchins, crustaceans, mollusks, and brittle stars. Juveniles often act as cleaner fish at cleaning stations where they remove parasites from larger reef fish. Their dramatic color transformation from juvenile to adult makes them particularly interesting for underwater naturalists.