Animalia Life

Congiopodus peruvianus
FAMILY
Congiopodidae
TAXONOMY
Congiopodus peruvianus Cuvier, 1829, San Lorenzo Island, Peru.
OTHER COMMON NAMES
Spanish: Pez chancho, chanchito; Japanese: Apachhi.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Grows to 11 in (28 cm) maximum length. Laterally compressed, with a single, sail-like dorsal fin. Snout has a single nostril on each side. The body is light brown with irregular dark blotches and spots, particularly on the dorsal fin. Additionally, there is a black band on the caudal peduncle and caudal fin.
DISTRIBUTION
This pigfish can be collected off the coast of South America in both the southeastern Pacific and southwestern Atlantic.
HABITAT
This is a demersal species that usually is taken at depths from 66–492 ft (20–150 m).
BEHAVIOR
As is seen in some other scorpionfishes, the molting or shedding of skin has been reported in congiopodids. These scorpionfishes are not venomous.
FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET
Very little is known about the diet of pigfishes. May be eaten by larger predatory fishes.
REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY
Nothing is known.
CONSERVATION STATUS
Not listed by the IUCN.
SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS
Although the flesh of this species is edible, it is rarely eaten.

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