Hogchokers only grow to about 6 inches long. (Charles & Clint/Flickr)
The hogchoker is a small, flat fish with a brown, rounded body. It is abundant year-round throughout the Chesapeake Bay.
Appearance:
Flat, rounded body
Dark brownish-gray on top and pale on the bottom
Narrow, black, vertical lines or spots on the top side of the body
Small eyes that are both located on the top side of the body
Rounded head with a small mouth
Dorsal and anal fins stretch around the body from the head to the tail
Rounded tail fin
Grows to about 6 inches long
Habitat:
Found in both shallow and deep waters
Prefers sandy, silty or muddy bottoms
Bottom-dweller
Range:
Lives in the Chesapeake Bay year-round
Ranges from tidal fresh water to the Bay’s mouth
One of the most abundant fish in the Bay
Feeding:
Eats worms and crustaceans
Hunts for its prey by lying half-buried in bottom sediments while both eyes look up
Predators:
Conceals itself from predators by burying itself in bottom sediments and changing colors to blend in with its surroundings
Reproduction and Life Cycle:
Spawns from May-September in inshore waters
Young are born with one eye on each side of the head. As larvae, the left eye gradually travels over the top of the head to a position next to the right eye.
Can live to 7 years old
Other Facts:
The unusual name "hogchoker" comes from farmers who used to feed this fish to their hogs. The hogs would often have a hard time eating the fish’s scaly, bony body.
Considered to be a "right-handed" flatfish because its mouth and eyes are on the right side of the body when viewed from above
It is nearly impossible to spot a hogchoker that has buried itself
Sources and Additional Information:
Fishes of Chesapeake Bay by Edward O. Murdy, Ray S. Birdsong and John A. Musick
