Scientific name : Anisotremus virginicus
Family : Haemulidae
Size : Up to 40 cm
Distribution : Caribbean coasts, from Florida to Brazil
Biology : The atlantic porkfish is also known as the “pigfish” because of its ability to emit grunting sounds reminiscent of a pig.
It is closely related to the Anisotremus taeniatus, a species living in the Pacific Ocean. These two species diverged about 2.8 million years ago, following the formation of the Isthmus of Panama, which separated the ocean populations.
IUCN status : Least concern