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🌊 Marine Least Concern 🍽️ Edible 🎣 Game Fish 🌡️ Tropical

Pflueger's goatfish

Mulloidichthys pfluegeri Steindachner, 1900
Max Length
40 cm
Max Weight
-
Lifespan
-
Trophic Level
3.9
Depth
30–110 m
Climate
Tropical
Resilience
Medium
Vulnerability
48.00/100
Typical Length
-
Depth Zone
reef

📖 Overview

This schooling species occurs at depths exceeding 30 m to at least 110 over sandy patches and limestone bottoms . Benthopelagic . It is mainly diurnal. May display four alternating dark red and light red bars on the body when feeding .

Scientific Name
Mulloidichthys pfluegeri
Authority
Steindachner, 1900
Habitat
Marine
Climate
Tropical
Body Shape
Fusiform / normal
IUCN Status
LC
Max Length
40 cm
Depth Range
30–110 m
Latitude
30°S – 30°N
Trophic Level
3.9
Resilience
Medium
Vulnerability
48.00/100
Salinity
30–40 ppt

🔬 Taxonomy

Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Teleostei
Teleostei
Order
Mulliformes
Mulliformes
Family
Mullidae
Mullidae
Genus
Mulloidichthys
Mulloidichthys
Species
Pflueger's goatfish
Mulloidichthys pfluegeri

🐟 Physical Description

Anal spines: 1; Anal soft rays: 7 - 8. : fusiform / normal.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Pflueger's goatfish is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

aquatic invertebrates
small fish
algae
detritus

🥚 Reproduction

🐣 Oviparous 📦 Batch Spawner
Spawning Season
spring-summer
Spawn Location
Pelagic
Fertilization
External

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Marine; reef-associated; depth range 30 - 110 m . Tropical; 30°N - 30°S, 51°E - 133°W north to the Ryukyu Islands, south to Tonga; Mariana and Marshall Islands in Micronesia.

🌿 Ecology

Zone Preferences
🌊 Marine 🪸 Reef Associated
Trophic Level
3.9±0.59
🐠 Schooling

📐 Morphometrics

Length–Weight Relationship: W = 0.01023 × L3.09 (TL)
Max TL
40cm
Anal Spines
1
Anal Rays
8

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

Salinity Range
30–40ppt

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

IUCN Category
Least Concern
Assessment Date
2015

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

Population Resilience
Medium
Minimum doubling time
Fishing Vulnerability
48.00/100
Moderate-High vulnerability
Trophic Level
3.9
Predator
Body Shape
Fusiform / normal
Climate Zone
Tropical
Latitude Range
30°N – 30°S
Described By
Steindachner, 1900

🎣 Angling Guide

Difficulty
Beginner
Fight Rating
strong pulls with head-shakes
Best Seasons
spring,summer,fall
Best Time
incoming tide, dawn and dusk
Line Weight
15-30
Rod Type
medium-heavy spinning
Hook Size
2/0-5/0
Catch & Release
✓ Recommended
Best Months
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Techniques
bottom fishing popping cork soft plastics live bait
Bait & Lures
live shrimp cut mullet soft plastic paddle-tails popping corks
Recommended Tackle
  • medium-heavy 7ft spinning rod
  • 30-50 lb braid
  • fluorocarbon leader
Where to Find Them
  • grass flats
  • oyster bars
  • marsh drains
  • deeper channel edges
Tips & Tricks
Popping cork technique attracts fish from distance. Fish moving tides.
Catch & Release Tips

Use barbless hooks, minimise air exposure, and revive fish head-first in current before release.

Regulations Summary

⚠️ Slot limits protect breeding-size fish. Verify daily bag limits.

🍽️ Edibility & Flavour

"Pflueger's goatfish is an edible species."

✗ Not for Raw
✓ Fresh Indicators
  • Clear, bright eyes — cloudy eyes indicate age
  • Firm flesh that springs back when pressed
  • Fresh ocean smell, never strong or ammonia-like
  • Bright red or pink gills, not grey or brown
  • Shiny, moist skin with scales tightly attached
✗ Avoid If
  • Cloudy or sunken eyes
  • Strong fishy or ammonia odour
  • Soft, mushy flesh that doesn't spring back
  • Discoloured or dry flesh
Best Cooking Methods
Baking Grilling Pan-frying

⚡ Nutrition

Per 100g cooked - Source: USDA FoodData Central

Nutrient Amount
Protein 18.8 g
Omega-3 (total) 169 mg

🔬 Mercury Safety

Mercury data for Pflueger's goatfish has not yet been assigned. Please consult FDA/EPA guidance for general seafood safety advice.

🌿 Sustainability

Best Choice
Healthy stocks, low impact
Good Alternative
Well-managed, minor concerns
Use Caution
Check sourcing and season
Avoid
Overfished or high impact
✓ Sustainable Choice

🔬 Full Nutritional Profile

Per 100g - Raw, per 100g - Source: USDA FoodData Central templates (generic fish average)

Proximate Composition
Energy125 kcal
Moisture75 %
Protein20 %
Total Fat4 %
Ash1.3 %
Fatty Acids (g)
Saturated Fat1 g
Monounsaturated Fat1.2 g
Polyunsaturated Fat1.5 g
Omega-3 Total1 g
EPA0.3 g
DHA0.5 g
Omega-6 Total0.3 g
Key Minerals & Vitamins
Calcium20 mg
Iron0.7 mg
Magnesium30 mg
Phosphorus220 mg
Potassium380 mg
Sodium55 mg
Zinc0.5 mg
Selenium32 µg
Vitamin B122 µg

📊 Population Dynamics

Year Region Index Notes
- - -

🌐 Names & Taxonomy

Scientific Synonyms

Scientific Name Author Year Status
Mulloides pfluegeri Steindachner 1900 Synonym
Mulloides pflugeri Steindachner 1900 Synonym
Mulloidichthys pflugeri Steindachner 1900 Synonym

🗺️ Global Occurrence Map

Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 1 records indexed .

Occurrence density from GBIF View GBIF records ↗

👥 Community & Contribute

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