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Today on Animal Fact Files we’re discussing tuskfish. These fish are named for their teeth. They have tusk-like canines much like the tusks found in pigs. In fact, their scientific name even means “pig toothed.” Because of their unique teeth, tuskfish are also known as tuskies! Sometimes their teeth even appear bright blue, such as in the harlequin tuskfish. Check out those chompers! In this species, their teeth darken with age. Tuskfish use their long tusks to tear and puncture the hard-shelled crustaceans, molluscs, and other tough prey that they eat. They're also known to eat fish, however this is relatively rare and mostly limited to larger species and individuals. What's more, they stand out from other fish because they use tools! Tuskfish have developed a strategy for opening up their thick-shelled prey. The fish will carry bivalves over to larger rocks and slam the shell against it, much like a hammer to an anvil!

Tuskfish are a type of wrasse. Every individual is born female and some transition to males later in life. In fact, the largest tuskfish individuals are often the males! Some species reach up to 40 inches long (100 cm) but many only reach about a foot (30 cm) in length. These fish are threatened by overfishing where males are removed from the population because they're the largest individuals. Often anglers are hoping to catch the biggest fish, and all the biggest tuskfish just happen to be male! It's not uncommon for there to be size limits for catching these fish. Of course, tuskies can replace their lost males by transitioning! Females can turn into a male when a large, dominant male is removed through fishing.

Adult tuskfish either spend their time alone or in small groups. A dominant male may have a harem with which he breeds or they may form mating pairs. When tuskfish mate, their eggs are released and fertilized externally. Tuskfish young often live closer to shore and alongside seagrass beds where they’re offered more protection from predators. Depending on the species, tuskfish spawn at different times of the year especially where species overlap. They do this so the young have less competition from similar species who might compete with them for food. It takes around 3 years for tuskfish to reach sexual maturity, and, if they do undergo a sex change during their lifetime, it may be as late as 10 years old. Some tuskfish species live to be 20 or older!

Overall, these fish are found in marine waters of the Indo-Pacific region. Adult tuskfish live in seagrass beds, much like their young, as well as sandy areas with rocks, and coral reefs with lots of hiding spaces. They're most frequently found swimming no deeper than 500 feet (150 m) below the waves. Although their teeth are intimidating, tuskfish still fall prey to larger animals. Their predators include sharks, moray eels, and other large fish. 

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