Cinnabar Goatfish
Parupeneus heptacantha
Also known as: Bighead Goatfish, Blackspot Goatfish, Opalescent Goatfish, Redspot Goatfish, Smallspot Goatfish, Spotted Golden Goatfish, Parupeneus heptacanthus
- Bighead Goatfish
- Blackspot Goatfish
- Opalescent Goatfish
- Redspot Goatfish
- Smallspot Goatfish
- Spotted Golden Goatfish
- Parupeneus heptacanthus
Overview
Found singly or in small schools, foraging for food over mud, rubble, sand, and seagrass beds, of lagoons and seaward 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!
How to identify
Habitat & where to find it
- Range · Indo-West Pacific
- Country only · 7
Found singly or in small schools, foraging for food over mud, rubble, sand, and seagrass beds, of lagoons and seaward reefs.
Adult photos 7
Discussion
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Deep dive
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