WHATSTHATFISH
Bony fish

Bicolor Goatfish

Parupeneus barberinoides

Also known as: Half-and-Half Goatfish, Swarthy-headed Goatfish

LCLeast ConcernIUCN Red List, 2016
Adult
@greatwhite · Pangiamotu, Tonga · July 20111 / 23
01

Overview

Found singly or in schools, over mixed rubble, sand, and seaweed bottoms, close to reefs of protected bays, lagoons, and deep outer reefs.

Goatfish have two barbels extending form the chin, these are used to probe the sand for food such as worms, brittle stars, crustaceans and small fish.
They often have other fish in tow which hoover up any creatures left behind.
Some Goatfish can rapidly change colour and spots that were there magically disappear!

02

How to identify

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

03

Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Western Pacific
  • Exact location · 1
  • Country only · 22
LIVES IN

Found singly or in schools, over mixed rubble, sand, and seaweed bottoms, close to reefs of protected bays, lagoons, and deep outer reefs.

04

Adult photos 23

05

Discussion

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    ALL STAGES
    FOR THE MARINE-BIOLOGY CURIOUS

    Deep dive

    Taxonomy

    1. kingdomAnimalia
    2. phylumChordata
    3. classTeleostei
    4. orderMulliformes
    5. familyMullidae
    6. genusParupeneus
    7. speciesParupeneus barberinoides (Bleeker, 1852)

    SourcesWoRMSFishBase

    06

    More in the family

    Goatfishes (Mullidae)