HomeFish encyclopediaRay-finned fishesPerch-like fishGoatfishesMascarene goatfish Mascarene goatfish (Upeneus mascareinsis) Scientific name: Upeneus mascareinsis Fourmanoir & Gu?z?, 1967 The Mascarene goatfish (Upeneus mascareinsis) is a marine fish of the family Mullidae. Native range: Western Indian Ocean, Madagascar, Mozambique, R?union, Western Indonesia. BiologyDorsal spines (total): 8; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9. This species is distinguished by the following characters: D VIII,9; pectoral fins 15-16; gill rakers 7-8 + 19-22 = 26-29; lateral line scales 35-38; body depth at first dorsal fin origin 22-26% SL and at anus 18-22% SL; caudal-peduncle depth 8.3-9.3% SL; maximum head depth 20-24% SL; head depth through eye 17-19% SL; head length 30-34%SL; orbit length 7.7-11% SL; upper jaw length 12-14% SL; barbel length 18-24% SL; caudal-fin length 27-31% SL; anal-fin height 13-16% SL; pelvic-fin length 20-24% SL; pectoral-fin length 21-24% SL; first dorsal-fin height 19-23% SL; second dorsal-fin height 15-16% SL; 7-10 total bars on caudal fin, 3-6 pale brown bars proximally to dark brown or black at distal margin on upper caudal-fin lobe, 3-4 brown bars on lower lobe, becoming darker distally, the last 2 completely dark brown or black with bars slightly increasing in width distally, small bar on tip; width of largest lower caudal-fin lSource: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0. Species factsScientific nameUpeneus mascareinsisFamilyMullidae (Goatfishes)OrderPerciformes (Perch-like fish)ClassActinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)Maximum length18.0Depth range100–400 m (328–1312 ft)EnvironmentMarine; demersal; depth range 100 - 400 mClimateTropicalDistributionWestern Indian Ocean: Madagascar, Mozambique, R?union, Western Indonesia.Conservation status (IUCN)Not EvaluatedThreat to humansHarmlessResilienceHigh, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.) SourcesTaxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.Last updated 27 September 2026