{{Short description|Species of fish}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2023}} {{Speciesbox | image = Anisotremus virginicus in Madagascar Reef.jpg | status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1 | status_ref = <ref name="iucn status 19 November 2021">{{cite iucn |author=Anderson, W. |author2=Claro, R. |author3=Cowan, J. |author4=Lindeman, K. |author5=Padovani-Ferreira, B. |author6=Rocha, L.A. |author7=Sedberry, G. |date=2015 |title=''Anisotremus virginicus'' |volume=2015 |article-number=e.T194409A2333098 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-4.RLTS.T194409A2333098.en |access-date=19 November 2021}}</ref> | genus = Anisotremus | species = virginicus | authority = ([[Carl Linnaeus|Linnaeus]], [[10th edition of Systema Naturae|1758]]) | synonyms = *''Sparus virginicus'' <small>[[Carl Linnaeus|Linnaeus]], [[10th edition of Systema Naturae|1758]]</small> | synonyms_ref = <ref name = Fishbase>{{FishBase|Anisotremus|virginicus|month=December|year=2019}}</ref> }}
'''''Anisotremus virginicus''''', the '''porkfish''', also known as the '''Atlantic porkfish''', '''sweetlips''', '''dogfish''', or '''paragrate grunt''', is a [[species]] of marine [[ray-finned fish]], a [[Haemulidae|grunt]] belonging to the [[Family (taxonomy)|family]] [[Haemulidae]]. It is native to the western [[Atlantic Ocean]].
==Description== ''Anisotremus virginicus'' has a deep, compressed body with a very high back and a short, blunt head. The mouth is positioned low on the head, it is horizontal with fleshy lips and the jaws are equipped with bands of teeth on both jaws. The outer band of teeth is conical in shape.<ref name = STRI>{{cite web | url = https://biogeodb.stri.si.edu/caribbean/en/thefishes/species/3713 | title = Species: Anisotremus virginicus, the Porkfish | access-date = 22 March 2021 | work = Shorefishes of the Greater Caribbean online information | publisher = Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute}}</ref> The flanks are marked with alternating yellow and silver stripes. A black bar runs diagonally from over the eye to the upper lip and a second, vertical black bar runs from the front of the [[dorsal fin]] to the base of the [[pectoral fin]]. They have yellow fins; the caudal fin is deeply forked. The juveniles do not have the two black bars and have two black stripes that run horizontally along the middle of the flanks and a black blotch close to the [[caudal fin]] base, and the head is vivid yellow.<ref name = DF>{{cite web | url = https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/discover-fish/species-profiles/anisotremus-virginicus/ | title = Anisotremus virginicus | access-date = 22 March 2021 | work = Discover Fishes | date = 9 May 2017 | publisher = Florida Museum}}</ref> The dorsal fin contains 12 spines and 16–18 soft rays, while the [[anal fin]] contains three spines and 9 soft rays. This species attains a maximum total length of {{cvt|40.6|cm}}, although {{cvt|25|cm}} is more typical, and the maximum published weight is {{cvt|930|g}}.<ref name = Fishbase/> [[File:Anisotremus virginicus - Tokyosealifepark - 2019 1 8.webm|thumb|left|A porkfish swimming in a tank]]
==Distribution== ''Anisotremus virginicus'' is found in the western Atlantic Ocean from northeastern [[Florida]] south along its Atlantic coast to the Bahamas, then westwards into the [[Gulf of Mexico]] from the [[Florida Keys]] north to [[New Port Richey]] on Florida's Gulf Coast. Within the gulf, it is found at the [[Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary|Flower Garden Banks]] and on the Mexican coast as far south as the northern [[Yucatan Peninsula]] and also northwestern Cuba. It then ranges southwards throughout the [[Caribbean Sea]], to South America as far south as [[Rio de Janeiro]]. It can also be found at [[Fernando de Noronha]] and [[Rocas Atoll|Atoll das Rocas]].<ref name="iucn status 19 November 2021" /> It is found at [[Bermuda]], where it was introduced.<ref name = DF/>
==Habitat and biology== ''Anisotremus virginicus'' inhabits reefs and areas of rock substrate in shallow inshore waters at depths of {{cvt|2.0|-|20|m|ft}}.<ref name = DF/> The juveniles are found in beds of sea grass.<ref name = ga>{{cite web | url = https://www.georgiaaquarium.org/animal/porkfish/ | title = Porkfish | access-date = 22 March 2021 | publisher = Georgia Aquarium}}</ref> It is a nocturnal species, which frequently moves around in large schools, occasionally swimming with [[white grunt]]s. This species can produce a grunting sound, as can all the grunts, by grinding its teeth together. It feeds mainly on benthic invertebrates such as [[molluscs]], [[crustaceans]], [[echinoderms]], [[polychaete]]s, and [[annelid]]s.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sta.uwi.edu/fst/lifesciences/sites/default/files/lifesciences/images/Anisotremus%20virginicus%20-%20Atlantic%20Porkfish.pdf |title=Anisotremus virginicus (Atlantic Porkfish)|website=uwi.edu|access-date=4 August 2023}}</ref> The juveniles act as [[cleaner fish]], picking [[parasite]]s from the skin and scales of other species of fish.<ref name = DF/><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/discover-fish/species-profiles/anisotremus-virginicus/ | title=Anisotremus virginicus }}</ref>
== Systematics== ''Anisotremus virginicus'' was first formally described in 1758 as ''Sparus virginicus'' by Linnaeus, with the type locality given as South America.<ref name = CofF>{{Cof genus | genus = Anisotremus | access-date = 22 March 2021}}</ref> When American [[ichthyologist]] [[Theodore Gill|Theodore Nicholas Gill]] created the genus ''Anisotremus'', he renamed ''Sparus virginicus'' and made it the type species.<ref name = CofF2>{{Cof family | family = Haemulidae| access-date = 22 March 2021}}</ref>
==Uses== ''Anisotremus virginicus'' is of minor importance to commercial fisheries and is caught using a variety of methods. It is considered a good sportfishing quarry and appears in the aquarium trade.<ref name="iucn status 19 November 2021" /><ref name = DF/> The species has been bred in captivity.<ref name = risingtide>{{cite web | url = https://www.risingtideconservation.org/porkfish/ | title = PORKFISH | date = 23 November 2011 | access-date = 23 March 2021 | publisher = Rising Tide Conservation}}</ref>
==References== {{commons category|Anisotremus virginicus}} {{wikispecies|Anisotremus virginicus}} {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{sealifephotos|279625}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q1733218}}
[[Category:Anisotremus|virginicus]] [[Category:Fish of the Atlantic Ocean]] [[Category:Fish described in 1758]] [[Category:Animal taxa named by Carl Linnaeus]] [[Category:Fish of Aruba]] [[Category:Marine fish of Nicaragua]]