Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) >
Perciformes (Perch-likes) >
Mullidae (Goatfishes)
Etymology: Parupeneus: Latin, parum, parvum = small + Peneus, the name of a river.
Environment / Climate / Range
Ecology
Marine; reef-associated; non-migratory; depth range 8 - 100 m (Ref. 48636). Tropical; 30°N - 30°S
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 50.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 30573); common length : 35.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 30573); max. published weight: 2.3 kg (Ref. 4887)
Dorsal
spines
(total): 8;
Dorsal
soft rays
(total): 9;
Anal
spines: 1;
Anal
soft rays: 7. Diagnosis: Pectoral rays 16 (rarely 15 or 17). Gill rakers 6-7 + 22-26 (total 29-33). Body depth 3.25-3.8 in SL (body deeper with growth); head length (HL) 2.85-3.1 in SL; snout long, its length 1.61.8 in HL; eye small, the orbit diameter 5.3-8.95 in HL (SL 118-392 mm); barbels very long, 1.15 in HL to longer than head; longest dorsal spine 1.5-1.7 in HL; penultimate dorsal ray 1.1-1.2 in length of last dorsal ray; pectoral-fin length 1.5-1.7 in HL; pelvic-fin length 1.35-1.55 in HL. Color of large adults yellowish gray, the edges of the scales bright blue except ventrally, the edges more broadly blue posteriorly; a large, hemispherical, saddle-like, yellow spot covering most of upper half of caudal peduncle; region around eye yellow with radiating short narrow blue bands; caudal fin with longitudinal blue bands; second dorsal and anal fins with narrow oblique blue bands; a second smaller color phase entirely yellow, the dorsal peduncular spot sometimes apparent by being brighter yellow than rest of body (Ref. 54393).
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea south to Durban, South Africa (Ref. 5405) and east to the Hawaiian, Line, Marquesan, and Tuamoto islands, north to the Ryukyu Islands, south to New Caledonia and Rapa.
Found on coral (Ref. 58652), rocky, or rubble bottoms of reef flats, lagoons, and seaward reefs (Ref. 3921). Benthopelagic (Ref. 58302). Juveniles form schools, adults usually solitary. Feed primarily on small fishes, crustaceans, peanut worms, shrimps, crabs, octopi, and small gastropods during the day (Ref. 3921). Minimum depth reported taken from Ref. 30874.
Randall, J.E., 2004. Revision of the goatfish genus Parupeneus (Perciformes: Mullidae), with descriptions of two new species. Indo-Pac. Fish. (36):64 p.
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 90363)
Threat to humans
Reports of ciguatera poisoning (Ref. 4690)
Human uses
Fisheries: commercial; gamefish: yes; aquarium: commercial
More information
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Estimates of some properties based on empirical models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82805): PD
50 = 0.5000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00000 (0.00000 - 0.00000), b=0.00000 (0.00000 - 0.00000), based on (Ref.
93245).
Trophic Level (Ref.
69278): 4.2 ±0.7 se; Based on diet studies.
Resilience (Ref.
69278): Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Moderate vulnerability (36 of 100) .
