Parupeneus cyclostomus

(Lacepède, 1801)

Vernacular names
English : Gold-saddle goatfish
French : Rouget à selle dorée

Classification
Class : Teleostei
Order : Mulliformes
Family : Mullidae
Notes : No subspecies known.

Identification
One of the largest goatfish species, reaching 50 cm for a weight of 2,3 kg. Long white barbels, coloration dull yellow-brown to bluish with radiating blue lines from eye and yellow saddle near tail. Some juveniles are bright orange or yellow.

Range and habitat
The species occurs in the Indo-Pacific area, from Red Sea and east Africa to Hawaii and French Polynesia, north to south Japan, south to Australia. Lives in reef flats, lagoons and seaward reefs over coral and rubble, to 125 m.

Conservation
IUCN RED LIST : LEAST CONCERN
CITES : Not Listed
Status : The species has a wide range but could be impacted by coral reef degradation. Declines are noted but haven’t been assessed so far.
Ex-Situ Programs : None known

Observation

 

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