Goatsbeard brotula (Brotula multibarbata)

Scientific name: Brotula multibarbata Temminck & Schlegel, 1846

The Goatsbeard brotula (Brotula multibarbata) is a marine fish of the family Ophidiidae. Native range: Indo-Pacific, Red Sea and East Africa to Pitcairn, north to southern Japan, south to Lord Howe Island.

Biology

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 109-139; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 80 - 106. In addition to meristic counts, B. multibarbata differs from B. townsendi by possessing a larger eye (width>interorbital space) and having slightly different coloration (dark brown with a submarginal black band and narrow white border on the dorsal and anal fins versus greenish to orange brown with orange-bordered dorsal and anal fins).

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name: Brotula multibarbata
Family: Ophidiidae (Cusk-eels)
Order: Ophidiiformes (Cusk eels)
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 100.0
Common length: 30.0
Depth range: 1–650 m (3–2133 ft)
Environment: Marine; reef-associated; depth range 1 - 650 m, usually 180 - 220 m
Climate: Tropical
Distribution: Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to Pitcairn, north to southern Japan, south to Lord Howe Island.
Conservation status (IUCN): Not Evaluated
Threat to humans: Harmless
Uses: Fisheries: minor commercial; gamefish: yes
Resilience: Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)

Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Last updated 27 September 2026