Animal Species:Bluestriped Goatfish, Upeneichthys lineatus (Bloch & Schneider, 1801)

The Bluestriped Goatfish is a shallow water species that occurs in temperate marine waters of eastern Australia.

A Bluestriped Goatfish at Port Stephens

A Bluestriped Goatfish at Port Stephens
Erik Schlögl © Erik Schlögl

Alternative Name/s

Blue-lined Goatfish, Blue-spotted Goatfish, Blue-striped Red Mullet, Red Mullet

Identification

The Bluestriped Goatfish has a small mouth with fleshy lips. There is a single row of conical teeth in both jaws. It has two fleshy barbels protruding from the chin (as do all the goatfishes). These are used for digging in soft substrates and sensing prey.

The colouration of the species is highly variable from pale, almost white, to deep red with various spots and markings on the head and sides.

Size range

31 cm

Similar Species

The species looks similar to the Bluespotted Goatfish, which has a slightly longer head and more distinct stripe along the side of the body.

Distribution

The Bluestriped Goatfish is endemic to Australia. It occurs mostly in sheltered bays and harbours from southern Queensland to eastern Victoria.

The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums.  Source: Atlas of Living Australia.

Upeneichthys lineatus

Distribution by collection data

Ozcam map of Bluestriped Goatfish specimens in the Australian Museum.

What does this mean?

Habitat

Divers see the species in small schools at depths from 5 m to 40 m. It is occasionally trawled in water down to 100 m.

Classification

Species:
lineatus
Genus:
Upeneichthys
Family:
Mullidae
Order:
Perciformes
Class:
Actinopterygii
Subphylum:
Vertebrata
Phylum:
Chordata
Kingdom:
Animalia

What does this mean?

References

  1. Hutchins, B. & R. Swainston. 1986. Sea Fishes of Southern Australia. Complete Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Swainston Publishing. Pp. 180.
  2. Kuiter, R.H. 2000. Coastal Fishes of South-eastern Australia. Gary Allen. Pp. 437.


Mark McGrouther , Collection Manager, Ichthyology
Last Updated:

Tags fishes, ichthyology, Mullidae, Bluestriped Goatfish, Upeneichthys lineatus, Blue-spotted Goatfish, Blue-striped Red Mullet, small mouth with fleshy lips, 30 cm - 1 m, southern Victoria,