Hogchoker Trinectes maculatus (Bloch & J. G. Schneider, 1801)    
Kingdom Animalia   >   Phylum Chordata   >   Class Actinopterygii   >   Order Pleuronectiformes   >   Family Achiridae   >   Genus Trinectes   

Status:

The Hogchoker is a member of the Order Pleuronectiformes, more commonly referenced as the flatfish. Other members of the order are flounder, halibut, and sole. The Hogchoker is one of the most common species in the Chesapeake Bay, but it can be tough detect because of its relatively small size, exceptional camouflage, and skill at rapidly burying itself in the sand. It is a "right-handed" flatfish because its eyes are on the right side of its body when viewed from above. The species' unfortunate common name comes from back when farmers would feed them to pigs, which struggle to swallow the scaly, bony fish.

There are 81 records in the project database.

View taxon at iNaturalist

View taxon at NatureServe

Search Google Images

Search MBP Facebook posts (beta | requires login)


[View seasonality details]
GAALWAFRCLMOHOBA BC HACEPGAA CV CH SM KE QA CN TA DO WI SO WO 
Hogchoker in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (8/2/2021). (c) Emilio Concari, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Emilio Concari. (MBP list)

Hogchoker in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (8/2/2021). (c) Emilio Concari, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Emilio Concari. (MBP list)

Hogchoker in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (8/2/2021). (c) Emilio Concari, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Emilio Concari. (MBP list)

A Hogchoker in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (8/12/2019). Photo by Robert Aguilar, SERC. (MBP list)

A Hogchoker in St. Mary's Co., Maryland (7/19/2019). Photo by Ben Springer. (MBP list)

A Hogchoker in Calvert Co., Maryland (7/24/2019). Photo by Ben Springer. (MBP list)

Hogchoker in Caroline Co., Maryland (5/11/2023). (c) Wayne Longbottom, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Wayne Longbottom. (MBP list)

Hogchoker in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (4/26/2021). (c) sercfisheries, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Robert Aguilar, SERC. (MBP list)

Hogchoker in Calvert Co., Maryland (5/11/2018). Photo by CHESPAX Biodiversity. (MBP list)

Hogchoker in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (4/12/2023). (c) sercfisheries, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Robert Aguilar, SERC. (MBP list)

A Hogchoker caught in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (12/11/2013). Photo by Robert Aguilar, SERC. (MBP list)

A Hogchoker in Calvert Co., Maryland (8/4/2016). Photo by Ben Springer. (MBP list)

Hogchoker in Caroline Co., Maryland (7/17/2023). (c) Wayne Longbottom, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Wayne Longbottom. (MBP list)

Hogchoker in Calvert Co., Maryland (7/26/2019). (c) kat4848, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by kat4848 via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

A Hogchoker in Calvert Co., Maryland (10/10/2015). Photo by Shannon Steele. (MBP list)

A Hogchoker in Calvert Co., Maryland (3/3/2018). Photo by Jane Kostenko. (MBP list)

Hogchoker in Caroline Co., Maryland (7/17/2023). (c) Wayne Longbottom, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Wayne Longbottom. (MBP list)

Hogchoker in Caroline Co., Maryland (7/15/2023). (c) Wayne Longbottom, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Wayne Longbottom. (MBP list)

Hogchoker in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (6/26/2022). (c) katyelin, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by katyelin via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

A Hogchoker in Calvert Co., Maryland (7/19/2014). Photo by Shannon Steele. (MBP list)

Hogchoker in Baltimore City, Maryland (8/25/2019). (c) laurabankey, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by laurabankey via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

A Hogchoker (left) with a Blackcheek Tonguefish (right) in St. Mary's Co., Maryland (7/19/2019). Photo by Ben Springer. (MBP list)

Hogchoker in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (5/26/2021). (c) sercfisheries, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Robert Aguilar, SERC. (MBP list)


View All Images

Use of images featured on Maryland Biodiversity Project is only permitted with express permission of the photographer.