Mexican goatfish (Mulloidichthys dentatus)

Scientific name: Mulloidichthys dentatus Gill, 1862

Mexican goatfish (Mulloidichthys dentatus)

The Mexican goatfish (Mulloidichthys dentatus) is a marine fish of the family Mullidae. Native range: Eastern Pacific, southern California, USA to Peru, including the Galapagos Islands; rare north of southern Baja California, Mexico.

Biology

Inhabits sand, mud and rock bottoms of shallow waters near the coast. Often occurs in small schools but may also be solitary. Feeds by digging in the sand with its barbels. Rests on the bottom at night, dramatically changing both color and daytime pattern to reddish blotches. Young are pelagic.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Mulloidichthys dentatus
Family
Mullidae (Goatfishes)
Order
Perciformes (Perch-like fish)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
31.0
Depth range
3–46 m (10–151 ft)
Environment
Marine; reef-associated; depth range 3 - 46 m
Climate
Subtropical
Distribution
Eastern Pacific: southern California, USA to Peru, including the Galapagos Islands; rare north of southern Baja California, Mexico.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Least Concern (LC)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Resilience
High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)

Sources

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

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