Bartail Goatfish, Upeneus tragula (Richardson, 1846)

ANIMAL SPECIES:Bartail Goatfish, Upeneus tragula (Richardson, 1846)

The Bartail Goatfish occurs in tropical and some warm temperate waters of the Indo-West Pacific. The species is white to pinkish, with a red to black stripe and brownish spots on the side of the body.

Identification

The Bartail Goatfish has a slightly compressed, elongate body that is covered with large scales. It has a forked caudal fin, and an anal fin that is opposite and similar to the second dorsal fin. There are bands of villiform teeth on the jaws, palatines and vomer.

The species is white to pinkish, with a red to black stripe and brownish spots on the side of the body. It has a barred tail and yellow barbels.

Size range

It grows to 30 cm in length.

Distribution

The Bartail Goatfish occurs in tropical and some warm temperate waters of the Indo-West Pacific.

In Australia it is known from south-western Western Australia, around the tropical north of the country, and south to the southern coast of New South Wales.

Distribution by collection data

Biomaps map of Bartail Goatfish specimens in the Australian Museum collection.

What does this mean?

Classification

Species:: tragula
Genus:: Upeneus
Family:: Mullidae
Order:: Perciformes
Class:: Actinopterygii
Subphylum:: Vertebrata
Phylum:: Chordata
Kingdom:: Animalia

What does this mean?

References

Allen, G.R. 1997. Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and South-east Asia. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 292.
Hutchins, B. & R. Swainston. 1986. Sea Fishes of Southern Australia. Complete Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Swainston Publishing. Pp. 180.
Kuiter, R.H. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. New Holland. Pp. 433.
Kuiter, R.H. 2000. Coastal Fishes of South-eastern Australia. Gary Allen. Pp. 437.
Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 557.

Last Updated: 3 August 2009

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