Sealife guideThe hogchokerTrinectes maculatus

Last updated on 10/30/2025 at 11:49 PM

Taxonomy

Common name: Hogchoker
French name: Sole bavoche, sole d'eau douce américaine
Spanish name: Suela tortilla
Scientific name: Trinectes maculatus (Bloch & Schneider, 1801)
Family name: Achiridae
Order name: Pleuronectiformes
Class name: Actinopterygii

Description

The hogchoker is a flatfish recognizable by its oval and asymmetrical body, typical of American flounders. It has a brownish to beige coloration, adorned with numerous irregular dark spots that provide excellent camouflage on sandy or muddy bottoms.

The hogchoker (Trinectes maculatus) © Erin Westgate | Dreamstime.com

It generally measures between 4 and 6 inches, with a maximum size of about 8 inches.

Geographic range

The hogchoker can be found along the coasts of the western Atlantic ocean, from Canada down to the Gulf of Mexico and northern South America.

In the United States, it is found in the freshwater and brackish waters of many Florida springs.

Habitat

The hogchoker is a benthic fish that primarily lives on sandy or muddy bottoms of coastal areas, estuaries and river mouths, spending most of its time partially buried in the substrate.

Diet

The hogchoker mainly feeds on small benthic invertebrates such as worms, crustaceans and mollusks.

Did you know ?

The hogchoker is a species tolerant of salinity variations, easily adapting to both freshwater and marine environments.

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