LABRIDAE


Bodianus neilli, 9.6 cm SL
(photo by Richard Winterbottom)


Bodianus neilli
(Day, 1867)
Bay of Bengal Hogfish

D XII, 10; A III, 11; P1 16; LLp 30-31; GR 7 + 11.

Body moderately deep; dorsal profile of head nearly straight, snout pointed; 4 strong canines situated anteriorly in each jaw; a large, curved canine present on each side of rear of upper jaw. Lateral line complete and smoothly curved; sheath of scales extending onto dorsal and anal fins. Caudal fin truncate to slightly double emarginate. Color: pale brownish orange shading to white posterior to a diagonal from font of abdomen to soft portion of dorsal fin; short brownish red streaks at base of pectoral fins and in soft portion of dorsal and anal fins; small brownish red spots at front of dorsal fin; caudal fin light brownish orange, the upper and lower margins narrowly brownish red. Size: maximum length about 20 cm. Distribution: Eastern Indian Ocean, from Maldives, Sri Lanka and India to Andaman Sea. Remarks: inhabits shallow coastal reefs at depths of 2-25 m.