LABRIDAE Bodianus mesothorax, 9.2 cm SL (photo by Richard Winterbottom) Bodianus mesothorax (Bloch and Schneider, 1801) Splitlevel Hogfish D XII, 9-11; A III, 11-12; P1 16; LLp 31-32. Body moderately deep; dorsal profile of head nearly straight, snout pointed; 4 strong canines situated anteriorly in each jaw; a large, curved canine present on each side of rear of upper jaw. Lateral line complete and smoothly curved; sheath of scales extending onto dorsal and anal fins. Caudal fin truncate to slightly rounded. Color: a broad diagonal band from spinous portion of dorsal fin to pectoral axil; body posterior to band whitish with narrow orange-yellow stripes following scale rows; head and body anterior to band purplish brown ventrally to black streak across lower cheek; fins largely yellow except for a large black spot at pectoral base and black anterior spinous part of dorsal fin. Juveniles black with two series of bright yellow spots, one dorsal and one ventral. Size: maximum length about 20 cm. Distribution: Western Pacific, from Andaman Sea to Fiji. Remarks: inhabits coral reefs at depths of 5-20 m.