Pearly goatfish (Parupeneus margaritatus)

Scientific name: Parupeneus margaritatus Randall & Gu?z?, 1984

Pearly goatfish (Parupeneus margaritatus)

The Pearly goatfish (Parupeneus margaritatus) is a marine fish of the family Mullidae. Native range: Western Indian Ocean, Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman to western Pakistan.

Biology

Dorsal spines (total): 8; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9; Anal spines: 1; Anal soft rays: 7; Vertebrae: 24. Diagnosis: Pectoral rays 15-17 (usually 16). Gill rakers 6-8 + 22-25 (total 29-33). Body moderately elongate, the depth 3.5-4.05 in SL (to 4.35 in juveniles); head length (HL) 2.75-3.0 in SL; snout length 1.75-2.3 in head length; upper-jaw length 3.0-3.5 in HL; barbels relatively short, 1.4-1.65 in HL; third dorsal spine longest, 1.65-1.95 in HL; last dorsal soft ray only slightly longer than penultimate ray; pectoral-fin length 1.5-1.7 in HL; pelvic-fin length 1.5-1.8 in HL. Gray to brownish red dorsally, whitish to light red ventrally, with a small pearly white to pale blue spot on each scale of body below the lateral line (center of scales on body above lateral line whitish but not as a distinct spot); an elongate white spot anteriorly on upper side of caudal peduncle, sometimes followed by a dusky spot of about the same size; a brown band on snout from upper

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Parupeneus margaritatus
Family
Mullidae (Goatfishes)
Order
Perciformes (Perch-like fish)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
23.0
Depth range
1–55 m (3–180 ft)
Environment
Marine; reef-associated; depth range 1 - 55 m
Climate
Tropical
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman to western Pakistan.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Not Evaluated
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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