ANIMAL: Atlantic Porkfish Anisotremus virginicus Type of Animal: Grunt Habitat: Found at depths of 6-65.6 ft-reefs, rocky bottoms, caves, mangroves, seagrass beds Location(s): W Atlantic from NE Florida through Gulf of Mexico & Caribbean all way to Brazil Appearance: Deep compressed body w/ high back & short blunt head, alternating yellow/silver stripes on flanks w/ black bar running diagonally from over eye to upper lip, 2nd vertical black bar runs from front of dorsal fin to base of pectoral fin. Deeply forked yellow tail fin, all fins yellow. Juveniles lack black bars instead having 2 black stripes running horizontally along middle of flanks along w/ black blotch close to tail fin base, head more vivid yellow on juveniles. Food/Diet: Crustaceans, worms, squid, scallops, snails, serpent stars, sea stars, sea urchins, sea cucumbers, clams, smaller fish Status in Wild: Stable Conservation: Breeding in aquariums, marine parks, & aquaculture Lifestyle: Schools of 20-500 fish Additional Info: Called: Male Female Young: Fry Group: School Weight: 0.5-1.5 lbs Gestation: 4-8 months Life Span: 10-15 years Body Length: 6-10 in Main predators are snappers, groupers, sharks, & lionfish. Juveniles act as cleaner fish, picking parasites from skin/scales of other fish as well as sea turtles. Active at night (nocturnal). Often associate w/ white grunts. These tend to be rather curious fish. These fish lay eggs in open water. While utilized as food fish, they’re more popular as game fish. These are popular fish in larger aquariums. Fun Fact(s): Consumption of these fish has been linked to ciguatera poisoning. However, these fish still fished as food fish. Get name from pig-like grunting sound. Like other grunts, they produce grunting sound by grinding teeth together. Also called Atlantic porkfish sweetlips, dogfish, or paragrate grunt.
