HomeMarine aquarium fishOther marine fishSidespot goatfish Sidespot goatfish (Parupeneus pleurostigma) Scientific name: Parupeneus pleurostigma Bennett, 1831 The Sidespot goatfish (Parupeneus pleurostigma) is a marine fish of the family Mullidae. Native range: Indo-Pacific, East Africa to Hawaii and the Line, Marquesas and Tuamoto islands, north to the Ryukyu Islands, south to Lord Howe and Rapa islands. BiologyDorsal spines (total): 8; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9; Anal spines: 1; Anal soft rays: 7; Vertebrae: 24. Diagnosis: Pectoral rays 16 (rarely 15 or 17). Gill rakers 6-8 + 21-25 (total 28-32). Body depth 3.45-3.95 in SL; head length (HL) 2.85-3.1 in SL; dorsal profile of snout straight to slightly convex, the snout length 1.7-2.05 in HL; barbel length 1.3-1.55 in HL; longest dorsal spine 1.4-1.7 in HL; last dorsal soft ray of adults longer than penultimate ray, the latter contained 1.1-1.25 in length of the former; posterior margin of caudal-fin lobes straight to slightly convex; pectoral-fin length 1.3-1.5 in HL; pelvic-fin length 1.25-1.45 in HL. Body pinkish to yellowish gray, the scale edges narrowly dark, with a black spot about 3-4 scales in width on lateral line below posterior part of first dorsal fin, followed by a large pale pink to white spot; a blue spot often present on each scale above lateral line, always present posteriorly; pale blue spots, one per sSource: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0. Species factsScientific nameParupeneus pleurostigmaFamilyMullidae (Goatfishes)OrderPerciformes (Perch-like fish)ClassActinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)Maximum length33.0Common length20.0Depth range1–75 m (3–246 ft)EnvironmentMarine; reef-associated; depth range 1 - 75 mClimateTropicalDistributionIndo-Pacific: East Africa to Hawaii and the Line, Marquesas and Tuamoto islands, north to the Ryukyu Islands, south to Lord Howe and Rapa islands.Conservation status (IUCN)Not EvaluatedThreat to humansHarmlessUsesFisheries: minor commercial; gamefish: yes; aquarium: commercialResilienceHigh, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.) More other marine fishManybar goatfishParupeneus multifasciatusGold-saddle goatfishParupeneus cyclostomusDash-and-dot goatfishParupeneus barberinusBicolor goatfishParupeneus barberinoidesYellowstripe goatfishMulloidichthys flavolineatusSharptooth 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