Gold-saddle goatfish
📖 Overview
Found on coral , rocky, or rubble bottoms of reef flats, lagoons, and seaward reefs . Benthopelagic . Juveniles form schools, adults usually solitary. Feed primarily on small fishes, crustaceans, peanut worms, shrimps, crabs, octopi, and small gastropods during the day . Minimum depth reported taken from Ref. 128797.
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal spines (total): 8; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9; Anal spines: 1; Anal soft rays: 7. This species is distinguished by the following characters: pectoral rays 16 (rarely 15 or 17); gill rakers 6-7 + 22-26 = 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. Colour of large adults yellowish gray, edges of the scales bright blue except ventrally, 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, with dorsal peduncular spot sometimes apparent by being brighter yellow than rest of body .: fusiform / normal; Cross section: oval.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Gold-saddle goatfish is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
🥚 Reproduction
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Marine; reef-associated; non-migratory; depth range 0 - 125 m . Tropical; 30°N - 35°S, 35°E - 124°W east coast of Africa south to Durban, South Africa, east to the Hawaiian Islands, islands of French Polynesia and the Pitcairn Islands, north to the Ryukyu Islands and Ogasawara Islands, Japan south to Australia.
🌿 Ecology
small fishes, crustaceans, peanut worms, shrimps, crabs, octopi, and small gastropods during the day
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🎣 Angling Guide
- medium-heavy 7ft spinning rod
- 30-50 lb braid
- fluorocarbon leader
- grass flats
- oyster bars
- marsh drains
- deeper channel edges
Use barbless hooks, minimise air exposure, and revive fish head-first in current before release.
⚠️ Slot limits protect breeding-size fish. Verify daily bag limits.
🍽️ Edibility & Flavour
"Gold-saddle goatfish is an edible species."
- 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
- Cloudy or sunken eyes
- Strong fishy or ammonia odour
- Soft, mushy flesh that doesn't spring back
- Discoloured or dry flesh
⚡ Nutrition
Per 100g cooked - Source: USDA FoodData Central
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Protein | 18 g |
| Omega-3 (total) | 132 mg |
🔬 Mercury Safety
Mercury data for Gold-saddle goatfish has not yet been assigned. Please consult FDA/EPA guidance for general seafood safety advice.
🌿 Sustainability
🔬 Full Nutritional Profile
Per 100g - Raw, per 100g - Source: USDA FoodData Central templates (generic fish average)
📊 Population Dynamics
| Year | Region | Index | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | - | - |
🌐 Names & Taxonomy
| Language | Common Names |
|---|---|
| 🇬🇧English | Blue kumu · Bright goatfish · Bright-saddled goatfish · Goatfish · Gold-saddled goatfish · Golden spotted goatfish · Red mullet · Surmullet · Yellow goatfish · Yellow-saddle Goatfish · Yellowsaddle Goatfish, Gold-saddle goatfish, Goldsaddle goatfish · Yellowsaddled goatfish · blue goatfish · gold-saddle goatfish · goldsaddle goatfish · moano kea · yellowsaddle goatfish · Yellow saddle goatfish |
| 🌍AFR | Goudsaal-bokvis |
| 🇸🇦Arabic | سمك الماعز أصفر السرج · سمك الماعز ذهبي السرج · سمك الماعز مشرق السرج |
| 🌍CES | parmice žlutosedlá |
| 🇩🇰Danish | Guldsaddelmulle |
| 🇩🇪German | Gelbe Meerbarbe · Gelbsattel-Meerbarbe |
| 🌍DIV | Reedhoo kalhu-oh |
| 🌍FIJ | iosi · iosi damu |
| 🇫🇷French | Barbet à selle d'or · Barbillon travesti · Barbillon à selle jaune · Capucin barbet doré · Capucin barbet doré, Rouget-barbet doré · Poisson-chèvre à selle jaune · Rouget jaune · Rouget-barbet doré · Rougetbarbet doré |
| 🌍HEB | בינתן עגול-פה |
| 🌍IND | Ikan jangut · Jenggot kuning |
| 🇮🇹Italian | Pesce capra coda gialla · Pesce capra giallo · Triglia a coda gialla · Triglia gialla · Triglietta gialla |
| 🌍JAV | Kakunir · Kunir · Kuniran |
| 🇯🇵Japanese | Marukuchi-himeji · Marukuchihimeji · マルクチヒメジ |
| 🌍MAH | Jerabwe · Jerrobe |
| 🌍MAL | Manjalmanakkam · മഞ്ഞല് മണക്കം · മഞ്ഞള് മണക്കം |
| 🌍MSA | Biji nangka · Biji nangka emas · Biji nangka karang · Butir nangka · Lebai |
| 🇳🇱Dutch | Citroenbarbeel |
| 🇵🇹Portuguese | Salmonete dourado |
| 🇷🇺Russian | Золотистая зубатая барабуля |
| 🌍SMO | Moana |
| 🌍SOM | Fangalaato |
| 🌍TAH | Ahuru haravai · Haravai · ahuru haravai, haravai |
| 🌍TGL | Amarilis · Bisugo · Dalagang bukid · Kapon · Manitis · Saging saging · Salmonito · Salmunete · Saramulyete · Saramulyeteng hato · Saramulyeteng hulik · Saramulyeteng tagisi · Tuyo · Yangutan |
| 🌍THA | ปลาแพะหลากสี |
| 🇨🇳Chinese | 圓口副緋鯉 · 圓口海緋鯉 · 頭帶副緋鯉 · 鬚哥 |
Scientific Synonyms
| Scientific Name | Author | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mullus chryserydros | Lacepède | 1801 | Synonym |
| Mullus cyclostomus | Lacepède | 1801 | Synonym |
| Mullus microps | Bliss | 1883 | Synonym |
| Mullus radiatus | Shaw | 1803 | Synonym |
| Parapeneus luteus | Valenciennes | 1831 | Synonym |
| Parupenaeus cyclostomus | Lacepède | 1801 | Synonym |
| Parupeneus chryserydros | Lacepède | 1801 | Synonym |
| Parupeneus luteus | Valenciennes | 1831 | Synonym |
| Parupeneus lutues | Valenciennes | 1831 | Synonym |
| Parupeneus xanthospilurus | Bleeker | 1875 | Synonym |
| Psedupeneus cyclostomus | Lacepède | 1801 | Synonym |
| Pseudupeneus aurantiacus | Seale | 1906 | Synonym |
| Pseudupeneus chryseredros | Lacepède | 1801 | Synonym |
| Pseudupeneus chryserydros | Lacepède | 1801 | Synonym |
| Pseudupeneus cyclostomus | Lacepède | 1801 | Synonym |
| Pseudupeneus luteus | Valenciennes | 1831 | Synonym |
| Upeneus chryserythrus | Günther | 1873 | Synonym |
| Upeneus immaculatus | Bennett | 1831 | Synonym |
| Upeneus luteus | Valenciennes | 1831 | Synonym |
| Upeneus oxycephalus | Bleeker | 1856 | Synonym |
| Upeneus saffordi | Seale | 1901 | Synonym |
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 18 records indexed .
👥 Community & Contribute
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