Galapagos Species Database
The Galapagos Species Database shares the information about the species from our Natural History Collections.
Bodianus diplotaenia
vieja mexicana, Vieja ribeteada, vieja de piedra, Mexican hogfish
Terminal phase is gray, tinted red to reddish brown or green to blue-green. Large bulbous bump develops on head with age. Young terminal phase lack bump and have pointed snout.. Common to length of 31 cm; maximum record 76 cm.
Habitat: Groups of up to ten individuals inhabit grass beds, coral reefs and rocky bottom. Large male are territorial
Domain
Eukaryota
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Teleostei
Order
Eupercaria incertae sedis
Family
Labridae
Genus
Bodianus
Species
diplotaenia
Taxon category: Accepted
Syn.: Harpe diplotaenia Gill, 1862, fide Appeltans et al. (2010)
Origin: Native
Map of specimen collection localities or observation records for this species in our collections database.
Distribution: Eastern Pacific, from Baja California and the Gulf of California to Iquique, Chile. Furthermore Clipperton, Cocos, Revillagigedos and Ecuador in Galápagos Islands.
- Grove, J.S. Lavenberg, R.J. (1997) The Fishes of the Galapagos Islands. Stanford University Press, Stanford California. 862 pp.
- Humann, P. Deloach, N. (2003) Reef Fish Identification - Galapagos. New World Publication, Inc. Florida USA & Libri Mundi, Quito, Ecuador, 226 pp.
- Appeltans, W. Bouchet, P., Boxshall, G.A., Fauchald, K., Gordon, D.P., Hoeksema, B.W., Poore, G.C.B., van Soest, R.W.M., Stöhr, S., Walter, T.C., Costello, M.J. (eds.) (2010) World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS). Available online at http://www.marinespecies.org.
- IUCN (2010) IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2010.1. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 26 April 2010.
- McCosker, J.E. Rosenblatt, R.H. (2010) The fishes of the Galápagos Archipelago: an update. Proc. Calif. Acad. Sc., Ser. 4, vol. 61, Suppl. II, no. 11: 167-195.
- Edgar, G.J. Fariña, J.M., Calvopiña, M., Martínez, C. & Banks, S. (2002) Comunidades submareales rocosas II: Peces y macroinvertebrados móviles. In: Danulat, E. & Edgar, G.J. (eds.) (2002): Reserva Marina de Galápagos. Línea Base de la Biodiversidad. Fundación Charles Darwin/Servicio Parque Nacional Galápagos, Santa Cruz, Galápagos, Ecuador, p. 68-97.
- Banks, S. Vera, M. & Chiriboga, A. (2009) Establishing Reference Points to Assess Long-Term Change in Zooxanthellate Coral Communities of the Northern Galapagos Coral Reefs. J. Sci. Conserv. in the Galapagos Islands, p. 43-64.
- Constant, P. (2007) Marine Life of the Galapagos. The Diver's guide to Fishes, Whales, Dolphins and marine Invertebrates, 307 pp.
You are welcome to download and use the information found in this page, acknowledging its source.
This page should be cited as follows:
"Galapagos Species Database, Bodianus diplotaenia", dataZone. Charles Darwin Foundation, https://datazone.darwinfoundation.org/en/checklist/?species=7699. Accessed 17 May 2025.