HomeMarine aquarium fishOther marine fishDash-and-dot goatfish Dash-and-dot goatfish (Parupeneus barberinus) Scientific name: Parupeneus barberinus Lacep?de, 1801 The Dash-and-dot goatfish (Parupeneus barberinus) is a marine fish of the family Mullidae. BiologyDorsal spines (total): 8; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9; Anal spines: 1; Anal soft rays: 7. Diagnosis: Pectoral rays 16-18 (usually 17). Gill rakers 6-7 + 20-25 (total 26-31). Body moderately elongate, depth 3.3-3.7 in SL; head length (HL) 2.6-3.0 in SL; snout length 1.45-2.1 in HL (snout relatively longer with growth); barbel length 1.4-1.6 in HL; longest dorsal spine 1.15-1.75 in HL (longer with growth); penultimate dorsal soft ray about equal to last ray in young, 1.2 in last ray in large adults; pectoral fins 1.5-1.75 in HL; pelvic fins 1.35-1.6 in HL. Body whitish with a dark brown to black stripe (red on fish in deeper water) from upper lip through eye to below posterior part of second dorsal fin or anteriorly on upper caudal peduncle; body above stripe yellow or yellowish gray; body below whitish, the scale edges narrowly gray to brownish red; a black or red spot larger than eye at midbase of caudal fin; some large adults with centers of scales below dark stripeSource: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0. Species factsScientific nameParupeneus barberinusFamilyMullidae (Goatfishes)OrderPerciformes (Perch-like fish)ClassActinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)Maximum length60.0Common length30.0Depth range100 m (328 ft)EnvironmentMarine; reef-associated; depth range ? - 100 mClimateTropicalDistributionIndo-Pacific: Gulf of Aden and Oman, south on the east coast of Africa to Mossel Bay, South Africa, east to the islands of Micronesia, Line Islands, Marquesas Islands, and Tuamotu Archipelago; and from southern Japan to Australia and New Caledonia.Conservation status (IUCN)Not EvaluatedThreat to humansHarmlessUsesFisheries: commercial; gamefish: yes; aquarium: commercialResilienceMedium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.) More other marine fishBicolor goatfishParupeneus barberinoidesGold-saddle goatfishParupeneus cyclostomusYellowstripe goatfishMulloidichthys flavolineatusManybar goatfishParupeneus multifasciatusSidespot goatfishParupeneus pleurostigmaSharptooth houndsharkTriakis megalopterusSee all other marine fish SourcesTaxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.Last updated 27 September 2026