Bartail Goatfish, Upeneus tragula (Richardson, 1846)
Click to enlarge image
© Dave Harasti
Fast Facts
-
Classification
- Genus
- Upeneus
- Species
- tragula
- Family
- Mullidae
- Order
- Perciformes
- Class
- Actinopterygii
- Subphylum
- Vertebrata
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Kingdom
- Animalia
-
- Size Range
- It grows to 30 cm in length.
Introduction
The Bartail Goatfish occurs in tropical and some warm temperate waters of the Indo-West Pacific. The species is white to pinkish, with a red to black stripe and brownish spots on the side of the body.
Identification
The Bartail Goatfish has a slightly compressed, elongate body that is covered with large scales. It has a forked caudal fin, and an anal fin that is opposite and similar to the second dorsal fin. There are bands of villiform teeth on the jaws, palatines and vomer.
The species is white to pinkish, with a red to black stripe and brownish spots on the side of the body. It has a barred tail and yellow barbels.
© Erik Schlögl
Distribution
The Bartail Goatfish occurs in tropical and some warm temperate waters of the Indo-West Pacific.
In Australia it is known from south-western Western Australia, around the tropical north of the country, and south to the southern coast of New South Wales.
The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums. Source: Atlas of Living Australia.
References
- Allen, G.R. 1997. Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and South-east Asia. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 292.
- Hutchins, B. & R. Swainston. 1986. Sea Fishes of Southern Australia. Complete Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Swainston Publishing. Pp. 180.
- Kuiter, R.H. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. New Holland. Pp. 433.
- Kuiter, R.H. 2000. Coastal Fishes of South-eastern Australia. Gary Allen. Pp. 437.
- Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 557.
