Sidespot goatfish
📖 Overview
Primarily an insular species . Usually solitary, it occurs in seagrass beds as well as over sand, rubble, or coral and rock bottoms of shallow lagoon and seaward reefs to a depth of at least 46 m . Benthopelagic . Feeds on benthic animals like crabs, polychaetes and other worms during the day , also shrimps, heart urchins, gastropods, pelecypods, foraminiferans, brittle stars, and fishes .
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal spines (total): 8; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9; Anal spines: 1; Anal soft rays: 7; Vertebrae: 24. Diagnosis: Pectoral rays 16 (rarely 15 or 17). Gill rakers 6-8 + 21-25 (total 28-32). Body depth 3.45-3.95 in SL; head length (HL) 2.85-3.1 in SL; dorsal profile of snout straight to slightly convex, the snout length 1.7-2.05 in HL; barbel length 1.3-1.55 in HL; longest dorsal spine 1.4-1.7 in HL; last dorsal soft ray of adults longer than penultimate ray, the latter contained 1.1-1.25 in length of the former; posterior margin of caudal-fin lobes straight to slightly convex; pectoral-fin length 1.3-1.5 in HL; pelvic-fin length 1.25-1.45 in HL. Body pinkish to yellowish gray, the scale edges narrowly dark, with a black spot about 3-4 scales in width on lateral line below posterior part of first dorsal fin, followed by a large pale pink to white spot; a blue spot often present on each scale above lateral line, always present posteriorly; pale blue spots, one per scale, ventrally on body, but often not visible; short blue lines radiating from eye except ventrally; barbels pale pink to white; basal third of second dorsal fin with a broad black or blackish band or a large black spot, sometimes extending onto adjacent back, the outer part of fin with narrow blue and yellow bands; anal fin with faint pale blue and yellow bands; remaining fins varying from yellowish gray to light red .: fusiform / normal; Cross section: oval.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Sidespot goatfish is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
Diet information for Sidespot goatfish is currently being compiled.
🥚 Reproduction
Reproduction data for Sidespot goatfish is currently being compiled.
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Marine; reef-associated; depth range 1 - 120 m . Tropical; 30°N - 30°S East Africa to Hawaii and the Line, Marquesas and Tuamoto islands, north to the Ryukyu Islands, south to Lord Howe and Rapa islands.
🌿 Ecology
benthic animals like crabs, polychaetes and other worms during the day (Ref
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🌐 Names & Taxonomy
Scientific Synonyms
| Scientific Name | Author | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parupenaeus pleurostigma | Bennett | 1831 | Synonym |
| Parupeneus brandesii | Bleeker | 1851 | Synonym |
| Parupeneus pelurostigma | Bennett | 1831 | Synonym |
| Pseudupeneus brandesii | Bleeker | 1851 | Synonym |
| Pseudupeneus pleurostigma | Bennett | 1831 | Synonym |
| Upeneus brandesii | Bleeker | 1851 | Synonym |
| Upeneus pleurostigma | Bennett | 1831 | Synonym |
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 2 records indexed .
👥 Community & Contribute
No observations yet - be the first to log one!
View all observations for Sidespot goatfish ↗Spotted incorrect or outdated data? Submit a correction and our editorial team will review it. Approved edits go live within 48 hours.
Found a factual error, broken data, or inappropriate content? Let us know and we will investigate promptly.