WHATSTHATFISH
Bony fish

Yellow Goatfish

Mulloidichthys martinicus

Also known as: Bearfish, Goldsaddle Goatfish, King Mullet, Queen Mullet, Red Goatfish, Yellowsaddle Goatfish

LCLeast ConcernIUCN Red List, 2015
Adult
@fishx6 · Bonaire - Dive Site 13, Caribbean Netherlands · November 20101 / 23
01

Overview

Found singly or in schools, foraging for food, over sandy areas, of lagoons and seaward reefs.
Juveniles found over seagrass beds.

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

Fins & Tail
yellow tail

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

03

Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Western Atlantic, Caribbean, Eastern Atlantic
  • Country only · 23
LIVES IN

Found singly or in schools, foraging for food, over sandy areas, of lagoons and seaward 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. genusMulloidichthys
    7. speciesMulloidichthys martinicus (Cuvier, 1829)

    SourcesWoRMSFishBase

    06

    More in the family

    Goatfishes (Mullidae)