WHATSTHATFISH
Bony fish

Yellowfin Goatfish

Mulloidichthys vanicolensis

Also known as: Banded Goatfish, Flame Goatfish, Golden-banded Goatfish, Goldenstripe Goatfish, Goldstripe Goatfish, Red Goatfish, Red Weke, Yellow Goatfish, Yellow-finned Goatfish, Yellow-stripe Goatfish, Yellow-striped Goatfish

LCLeast ConcernIUCN Red List, 2016
Adult
@fishx6 · Gullivers, Lighthouse Bay, Ningaloo Reef, Exmouth, WA, Australia · March 20131 / 19
01

Overview

Found during the day in large inactive schools, dispersing at night foraging for food over sandy bottoms of reef flats, lagoons, coastal 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!

02

How to identify

Fins & Tail
yellow fins

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

03

Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Indo-Pacific
  • Exact location · 3
  • Country only · 16
LIVES IN

Found during the day in large inactive schools, dispersing at night foraging for food over sandy bottoms of reef flats, lagoons, coastal and seaward reefs.

04

Adult photos 19

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 vanicolensis (Valenciennes, 1831)

    SourcesWoRMSFishBase

    06

    More in the family

    Goatfishes (Mullidae)