About Choerodon schoenleinii (Valenciennes, 1839)
The blackspot tuskfish, scientifically known as Choerodon schoenleinii, is a species of wrasse. It is native to the Indian Ocean and the western Pacific Ocean, ranging from Mauritius to Indonesia and Australia, and extending north to the Ryukyu Islands. This species lives on reefs, and prefers habitats with sandy substrates or weed growth. It can be found at depths between 10 and 60 meters (33 to 197 feet), though it is rarely found deeper than 20 meters (66 feet). It can grow up to 100 centimeters (39 inches) in total length, and the maximum recorded published weight of this species is 15.5 kilograms (34 pounds). The blackspot tuskfish is an important species for local commercial fisheries, and it is also farmed. It is a popular game fish, especially among spearfishers, and it is sold in the aquarium trade. In Hong Kong, its Cantonese name tsing yi (青衣) has been used to name Tsing Yi Island. In July 2011, a professional diver captured photographs of a blackspot tuskfish bashing a clam against a rock to break its shell, in apparent use of the rock as a tool. This observation was the first documented example of tool use by a wild fish.
