If you have fished, speared or dived in north-eastern New Zealand, you may have encountered the reef-dwelling red pigfish (Bodianus unimaculatus), a large distinctive red-striped fish that is a member of the wrasse family. In this article, I will introduce you to its more mysterious and rarer ‘cousin’, the striped pigfish (Bodianus izuensis).

The striped pigfish is a small subtropical species that has been seen at the Poor Knights Islands in northern New Zealand. Outside of New Zealand, this species can be found in the tropical West Pacific, from Australia up to New Caledonia and Japan. However, due to its small size, the fact it inhabits relatively deep water, and its shy nature, this species is rarely encountered. Within their native range, striped pigfish inhabit rocky and coral reefs from about 12m down to over 100m in depth. They often hide under ledges and in small caves, and during the mating season they will form monogamous pairs that are seen together. Although it is one of the smallest pigfish or foxfish species at a maximum size of 10cm, its diet is very similar to that of other members of the Bodianus genus.

Striped pigfish are active predators whose diet consists mainly of mobile and benthic invertebrates, including molluscs, crustaceans and worms; and despite their small size they are also known to hunt and eat juveniles of other fishes.

Like most wrasses, striped pigfish are protogynous hermaphrodites. This means that they are all born female and, as they mature, can change their sex to male. As for most wrasse species, their colouration and appearance changes significantly as they progress through these different life stages.

As the name suggests, this fish is indeed stripy; however, like other wrasses, the striped pigfish’s distinctive colouration changes as it gets older. The juveniles have a light-coloured body with three dark-red longitudinal stripes along their length. Mature fish develop yellow tailfins and their dorsal fin also has a yellow section toward the back. The middle of the three longitudinal stripes on the body of the mature striped pigfish changes from red to black and they have a distinctive black spot on their operculum (gill cover).

A mature striped pigfish showing the black stripe, yellow fins and distinctive black spot on the operculum (gill cover).

In New Zealand there have been two sightings of this species, but both are likely to be of the same individual. A juvenile fish was first spotted on a small rock stack in the Poor Knights Islands marine reserve in April 2017, and then in early February this year a mature fish was spotted in the exact same location.

The only known Striped pigfish in New Zealand waters, with a small two spot desmoiselle. 

Because this species is such a new addition to our fish fauna, we don’t yet know what type of habitat it prefers, if it is likely to breed here, or if it will compete with our native wrasses. We may see more striped pigfish turning up in northern New Zealand if ocean temperatures increase, so if you think you have spotted a striped pigfish in New Zealand waters send a photograph (along with the date and location of your sighting) to What’s That Fish NZ? or a fish taxonomist to confirm its identity. We are keen to learn more about this species, and to know if the lonely striped pigfish at the Poor Knights has any kiwi mates!