Hogchoker

The hogchoker is a small flatfish found along the Atlantic coast of North America, ranging from Massachusetts and Florida to Panama. They prefer brackish water, and are abundant in many bays and estuaries north of the Carolinas . It is a member of the American sole family Achiridae. They are usually brown to dark brown in color, and lighter on their "blind side" . The overall body color is often broken by a series of spots and thin stripes, which can be lighter or darker than the main body color. The fins and tail have fringed edges helping hide the fish from its prey. They mainly feed on small aquatic insects and invertebrates. They are regarded as "trash fish" by recreational fishermen but were fed to pigs but they have rather bony bodies which were sometimes difficult for the pigs to swallow, hence the vernacular name.

Distinguished from other species by an interbrachial septum lacking a foramen, ''T. maculatus'' often has no ray in its pectoral fin.