Parupeneus moffitti Randall & Myers, 1993
Parupeneus moffitti
photo by Myers, R.F.

Family:  Mullidae (Goatfishes)
Max. size:  23.5 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  pelagic-neritic; marine; depth range 120 - 230 m
Distribution:  Western Pacific: Mariana Islands, Guam.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 8-8; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9-9; Anal soft rays: 7-7; Vertebrae: 24-24. Diagnosis: Pectoral rays 15. Gill rakers 7-8 + 28-30 (total 36-38). Body depth 3.4-3.7 in SL; head length (HL) 2.95-3.1 in SL; snout length 1.8-1.85 in HL; eye relatively large, the orbit diameter 5.2-5.6 in HL; barbels long, 1.15 in HL; third dorsal spine longest, its length 1.51.65 in HL; penultimate dorsal soft ray 1.1-1.25 in length of last dorsal ray; pectoral-fin length 1.35-1.45 in HL; pelvic-fin length 1.4-1.5 in HL. Body pale red, the edges of the scales narrowly darker red; a pink band along back below dorsal fins, broadening posteriorly, bordered above and below by red, each scale in border, especially dorsally, with a dusky dark red spot; barbels pale pink to white; the fins pale red to pink, the outer third of the second dorsal with narrow blue and yellow bands; anal fin pink with irregular narrow yellow bands; outer part of the upper caudal-fin lobe pale yellow (Re. 54393).
Biology: 
IUCN Red List Status: Data deficient (DD); Date assessed: 11 March 2015 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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