Spotted goatfish (Pseudupeneus maculatus) fish species and information / pictures of Spotted goatfish - Pseudupeneus maculatus

Spotted goatfish (Pseudupeneus maculatus) fish species information

Scientific Name
Pseudupeneus maculatus

Common Name
Spotted goatfish

Biology
Inhabits shallow waters to depths of 90 m (Ref. 9626), especially over sand and rock bottoms in reef areas. Young juveniles often found on beds of seagrass, e.g. Thalassia. Feeds on small invertebrates (Ref. 9626). Flesh highly esteemed; marketed fresh and frozen (Ref. 3792). Traded as an aquarium fish at Cear?, Brazil (Ref. 49392).

Classification

Classified By
Bloch, 1793
Class
Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)
Order
Perch-like fish (Perciformes)
Family
Goatfishes (Mullidae)

Distribution

Region
Western Atlantic
Distribution
Western Atlantic: Bermuda and New Jersey, USA to Santa Catarina, Brazil (Ref. 57756), including the Gulf of Mexico and throughout the Caribbean Sea (Ref. 9626).
Range
40°N - 23°S

Environment

Climate
Subtropical
Water Temperature From
Unknown °C
Water Temperature To
Unknown °C
Depth From - meters
0 m
Depth To - meters
90 m
Zone
reef-associated
Environment
Marine; reef-associated; depth range 0 - 90 m (Ref. 9626), usually 0 - 35 m (Ref. 40849)
Trophic Level
3.47 s.e. 0.53 Based on diet studies.
Occurs in Marine / Salt water
True
Occurs in Brackish water
False
Occurs in Fresh Water
False
Occurs on Reefs
True
Is kept in Aquariums
True

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length
30.0 cm
Common Length
22.0 cm
Phylogenetic Diversity Index
PD50 = 0.6250 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses
Fisheries: commercial; aquarium: commercial
Vulnerability
Moderate vulnerability (35 of 100)
Resilience
High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (K=0.3-0.7)
Threat To Humans
  Reports of ciguatera poisoning (Ref. 30303)
IUCN Red List Status
  Not Evaluated