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Species Details

Details of Dash-and-dot goatfish will be displayed below

Dash-and-dot goatf...   

Common Name: Dash-and-dot goatfish
Scientific Name: Parupeneus barberinus
Local Name: Maa kalhuoh
Dhivehi Name: މާކަޅުއޮށް
Animalia  (Kingdom)
Chordata  (Plylum)
Actinopterygii  (Class)
Perciformes  (Order)
Mullidae  (Family)
Parupeneus   (Genus)

Dash-and-dot goatfish's description

The dash-and-dot goatfish has the twin chin barbels typical of goatfishes.

Short description - Dorsal spines (total): 8; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9; Anal spines: 1; Anal soft rays: 7. Diagnosis: Pectoral rays 16-18 (usually 17). Gill rakers 6-7 + 20-25 (total 26-31). Body moderately elongate, depth 3.3-3.7 in SL; head length (HL) 2.6-3.0 in SL; snout length 1.45-2.1 in HL (snout relatively longer with growth); barbel length 1.4-1.6 in HL; longest dorsal spine 1.15-1.75 in HL (longer with growth); penultimate dorsal soft ray about equal to last ray in young, 1.2 in last ray in large adults; pectoral fins 1.5-1.75 in HL; pelvic fins 1.35-1.6 in HL. Body whitish with a dark brown to black stripe (red on fish in deeper water) from upper lip through eye to below posterior part of second dorsal fin or anteriorly on upper caudal peduncle; body above stripe yellow or yellowish gray; body below whitish, the scale edges narrowly gray to brownish red; a black or red spot larger than eye at midbase of caudal fin; some large adults with centers of scales below dark stripe pale blue, the edges yellow or with yellow spots, especially posteriorly; peritoneum dark brown.

Dash-and-dot goatfish's facts

Did you know?

  • Dash-and-dot goatfish (Parupeneus barberinus) like other goatfishes uses its barbels to probe into the bottom in search of food. When prey animals are found it roots into the sand with its snout.

Dash-and-dot goatfish's Relationship with Humans

This is a common known fish to Maldivians that is used in different cuisines.

Dash-and-dot goatfish habitat

This species is found on sand-rubble bottoms near reefs to depths of 100 m. It reaches a maximum size of about 53 cm (TL). This species forages on sand-dwelling invertebrates such as polychaete worms, crustaceans (Randall 2004), sipunculids, pelecypods, small gastropods, isopods, brachiopods (Randall 1999). 
Individuals from Palau and the eastern Carolines often have a yellow band immediately above the broad black band extending behind the eye. Juveniles are usually in small, mixed-species groups in sparse seagrass habitat (Kuiter and Tonozuka 2001). This species utilises multiple habitats and undergoes ontogenetic habitat shifts from mangroves/seagrasses to coral reefs (Honda et al. 2013).

The main spawning season of P. arupeneus barberinus in the Gulf of Aquaba extends from May to August for females and from May to June for males (Wahbeh and Ajiad 1985).

Dash-and-dot goatfish threats

There are no known major threats to this species.

Dash-and-dot goatfish's status