Bluestriped Goatfish, Upeneichthys lineatus (Bloch & Schneider, 1801)

Scientific name: Upeneichthys lineatus
Alternative name/s:
Blue-lined Goatfish, Blue-spotted Goatfish, Blue-striped Red Mullet, Red Mullet
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.
Blue-lined Goatfish, Upeneichthys lineatus Click to enlarge image
A Blue-lined Goatfish at a depth of 16m, Inner Rock, Broughton Island, off Port Stephens, New South Wales, June 2001. Image: Erik Schlögl
© Erik Schlögl

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Upeneichthys
    Species
    lineatus
    Family
    Mullidae
    Order
    Perciformes
    Class
    Actinopterygii
    Subphylum
    Vertebrata
    Phylum
    Chordata
    Kingdom
    Animalia
  • Size Range
    31 cm

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

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.

Bluestriped Goatfish, Upeneichthys lineatus

A 'fluorescing' Bluestriped Goatfish photographed at night at a depth of 5 m, Camp Cove, Sydney Harbour, New South Wales, 27 March 2013. The photograph was taken using two Seacam flashes with Nightsea BE3 Exciter filters (to get the near-UV light). A yellow filter on the camera lens cut back the non-fluorescent blue light reaching the sensor.

Image: Erik Schlögl
© Erik Schlögl

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.

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.

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.