Bartail Goatfish, Upeneus tragula (Richardson, 1846)

Scientific name: Upeneus tragula
  • Updated
    22/12/20
  • Read time
    2 minutes
Bartail Goatfish Click to enlarge image
A Bartail Goatfish at a depth of 10 m, Moreton Bay, November 2005. Image: Dave Harasti
© Dave Harasti

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Upeneus
    Species
    tragula
    Family
    Mullidae
    Order
    Perciformes
    Class
    Actinopterygii
    Subphylum
    Vertebrata
    Phylum
    Chordata
    Kingdom
    Animalia
  • Size Range
    It grows to 30 cm in length.

Introduction

The Bartail Goatfish occurs in tropical and some warm temperate waters of the Indo-West Pacific. The species is white to pinkish, with a red to black stripe and brownish spots on the side of the body.

Identification

The Bartail Goatfish has a slightly compressed, elongate body that is covered with large scales. It has a forked caudal fin, and an anal fin that is opposite and similar to the second dorsal fin. There are bands of villiform teeth on the jaws, palatines and vomer.

The species is white to pinkish, with a red to black stripe and brownish spots on the side of the body. It has a barred tail and yellow barbels.

Bartail Goatfish, Upeneus tragula
Bartail Goatfish at a depth of 18m, Pulau Kerengga, Redang, Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia, April 2001. Image: Erik Schlögl
© Erik Schlögl

Distribution

The Bartail Goatfish occurs in tropical and some warm temperate waters of the Indo-West Pacific.

In Australia it is known from south-western Western Australia, around the tropical north of the country, and south to the southern coast of New South Wales.

The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums. Source: Atlas of Living Australia.

Distribution data sourced from the Atlas of Living Australia

References

  1. Allen, G.R. 1997. Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and South-east Asia. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 292.
  2. Hutchins, B. & R. Swainston. 1986. Sea Fishes of Southern Australia. Complete Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Swainston Publishing. Pp. 180.
  3. Kuiter, R.H. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. New Holland. Pp. 433.
  4. Kuiter, R.H. 2000. Coastal Fishes of South-eastern Australia. Gary Allen. Pp. 437.
  5. Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 557.