Blackspot Goatfish

Parupeneus spilurus

Also known as: Blacksaddle Goatfish, Black-saddled Goatfish, Onespot Goatfish, Red Goatfish, Tailspot Goatfish

ALSO KNOWN AS

Blacksaddle Goatfish
Black-saddled Goatfish
Onespot Goatfish
Red Goatfish
Tailspot Goatfish

LCLeast ConcernIUCN Red List, 2016

Add a photo

Blackspot Goatfish adult, photographed at Gullivers, Lighthouse Bay, Ningaloo Reef, Exmouth, WA, Australia — @fishx6 · Gullivers, Lighthouse Bay, Ningaloo Reef, Exmouth, WA, Australia · March 20131 / 12

Overview

Found singly or in small schools foraging for food over rock and sandy bottoms of estuaries and coastal reefs often where there is a strong current present.

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!

How to identify

COLOURS

Pattern: black spot blotches spots stripes
Behaviour: schooling solitary

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

Habitat & where to find it

Range · Western Pacific
Exact location · 7
Country only · 5

LIVES IN

Found singly or in small schools foraging for food over rock and sandy bottoms of estuaries and coastal reefs often where there is a strong current present.

RANGE