This fish was originally named Sparus virginicus in 1758 by Carl Linnaeus, a swedish naturalist. It was later renamed
Anisotremus virginicus (Linnaeus 1758), the currently accepted scientific name. The genus name, Anisotremus, is derived
from the Greek "anisos" meaning unequal and "trema" / "-atos" meaning hole. There are no known synonyms used in previous scientific
literature referring to this fish.
English language common names are porkfish, Atlantic porkfish, and paragrate grunt. Other common names include arroz con
coco (Spanish), bandera spano (Papiamento), bonakanaal (Papiamento), burro catalina (Spanish), canario (Spanish),
catalineata (Spanish), kuroobidai (Japanese), lippu rondeau (French), luszczyk wirginski (Polish), palriot (French),
roncador-listado-americano (Portuguese), rondeau (French), salema (Portuguese), spaansevlag (Dutch), and svinfisk
Porkfish occur in the western Atlantic Ocean from Florida south to Brazil, including the Gulf of Mexico
and the Caribbean Sea as well as the Bahamas. It has also been introduced to waters off Bermuda.
World distribution map for the porkfish
Porkfish schooling over a reef
© Doug Perrine
Inhabiting shallow inshore waters over reefs and rocky bottoms, the porkfish is found at depths of 6-65 feet (2-20 m).
It is nocturnal and often travels in large schools, occasionally swimming with white grunts. Porkfish make a grunting
sound, common to all grunts, by rubbing their teeth together.
© George Burgess
Importance to Humans
- · Distinctive Features
The porkfish is a deep-bodied grunt with a blunt snout and thick lips. It has a higher dorsal profile
than most other grunts. The caudal fin is notched. The mouth is small and positioned low on the head.
- · Coloration
Juvenile porkfish coloration
The body has yellow and silvery-blue stripes, and two black bars. One bar runs diagonally from above the eye to the mouth
while the other is more vertical, beginning at the anterior edge of the dorsal fin to the base of the pectoral fin. The
fins are yellow. Juvenile porkfish have no black bars, but instead have a large dark blotch near the base of the caudal fin.
Two black stripes run horizontally through the midbody and back. The head is a brilliant yellow.
© Luiz Rocha
The porkfish is the only
grunt occurring in the Atlantic Ocean with this yellow coloration and two black stripes. It is closely related to the burrito
grunt (Anisotremus interruptus) from the Pacific Ocean. This pair is referred to as germinate species, believed to have been
separated millions of years ago by the isthmus of Panama.
Porkfish reach a maximum length of 15 inches
© George Burgess
- ·Size, Age, and Growth
Porkfish reach a maximum length of 15 inches (38 cm) and weight of 2 pounds (9 g). This fish commonly weighs only 4
ounces (113 g).
Although the porkfish is a grunt, it lacks canines on the jaws and vomer teeth. Teeth are located on the pharyngeal
bone of the jaw.
- · Food Habits
Invertebrates such as mollusks, echinoderms, crustaceans, and worms are preyed upon by nocturnally feeding adult porkfish. Juvenile
porkfish pick parasites from the skin and scales of other species of fish, and are considered "cleaners".
© George Burgess
- · Reproduction
There is very little known about spawning and larval development of the porkfish. The larvae are similar in appearance to
other sparids, but have a distinctive caudal fin spot. The second dorsal and anal fins are the first of the fins to begin
development, a common pattern among perciform fishes.
- · Parasites
Parasites of the porkfish include cestode larvae found in the gills and copepods found within the operculum. A dinoflagellate,
Oodinium ocellatum, has been observed in the kidney and internal tissues of this fish.
Large fish are potential predators of the porkfish· Predators
Snappers, groupers, sharks and other large piscivores are potential predators of the porkfish.
Porkfish are easily approached by divers
Porkfish are of minor commercial fisheries value, however they are considered a good gamefish. Human consumption of the flesh
of porkfish has been linked to ciguatera poisoning. Specimens are also collected for display in public show aquaria. In its
natural habitat, porkfish are easily approached by divers.
courtesy National Park Service
The porkfish is not listed as endangered or vulnerable with the World Conservation Union (IUCN). The IUCN is a global union
of states, governmental agencies, and non-governmental organizations in a partnership that assesses the conservation status