Deep-sea fish with tropical colors! The world’s first successful exhibit of the black ear hogfish!

Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium is pleased to announce the world’s first exhibition of the black ear hogfish.

キマダラヒメダイ

Black ear hogfish
Scientific name：Bodianus tanyokidus
Okinawan name：Akare

The black ear hogfish is distributed across the Indo-Pacific. In Japan, it is only found near the Ryukyu Islands. The black ear hogfish is a rare species in the wrasse family. It lives at depths from 100 to 200 meters. It has a pale-yellow head with a pink patch surrounding its eyes. It has a distinctive black patch near the gills. Information about this species is scarce, and its ecology is not well known.

Place of exhibit

Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium Journey into the Deep Sea

Exhibit duration

August 14th, 2020～

Size of exhibit

1 indivisuals（about 20cm length）
※Exhibit may close depending on the condition of the animals.

The black ear hogfish on display was collected at a depth around 150 meters, 80 km offshore of the northern part of the Okinawan mainland. The individual exhibited is the third case reported in Japan, and the world’s first successful captive rearing. See its beautiful colors as it gracefully swims. We hope to better understand the ecology of the black ear hogfish by rearing it here at Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium.