Goldsaddle Goatfish, Parupeneus cyclostomus (Lacépède, 1801)

Scientific name: Parupeneus cyclostomus
Alternative name/s:
Bright Goatfish, Bright-saddled Goatfish, Red Mullet, Surmullet, Yellow Goatfish, Yellow-saddle Goatfish
  • Author(s)
    Mark McGrouther
  • Updated
    19/03/21
  • Read time
    2 minutes
Parupeneus cyclostomus Click to enlarge image
A Goldsaddle Goatfish at a depth of 10m, the Cod Hole, Ribbon Reef #10, far northern Great Barrier Reef, Queensland, June 2002. Image: E. Schlögl
© E. Schlögl

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Parupeneus
    Species
    cyclostomus
    Family
    Mullidae
    Order
    Perciformes
    Class
    Actinopterygii
    Subphylum
    Vertebrata
    Phylum
    Chordata
    Kingdom
    Animalia
  • Size Range
    The species grows to about 50 cm in length.

Introduction

The Goldsaddle Goatfish occurs on coral reefs and inshore waters of tropical and some temperate marine waters. The species has two colour varieties.

Identification

The Goldsaddle Goatfish has two colour varieties. One is purplish-pink or grey with blue markings on the scales and a yellow saddle on the caudal peduncle. The second is entirely yellow.

Parupeneus cyclostomus

A Goldsaddle Goatfish at a depth of 10m, uncharted reef off Oro Province, Papua New Guinea, August, 2004.

Image: E. Schlögl
© E. Schlögl

Habitat

It occurs primarily over sandy substrates on coral reefs and inshore waters.

Distribution

It occurs in the Indo-West and Central Pacific. In Australia it is known from central to north-western Western Australia and from northern Queensland to central New South Wales.

Distribution data sourced from the Atlas of Living Australia

Feeding and diet

Fishes comprise up to 70% of the food intake of the Goldsaddle Goatfish. This is unusually high compared with the diets of other goatfishes.

References

  1. Allen, G.R. 1997. Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and South-east Asia. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 292.
  2. Hoese, D.F., Bray, D.J., Paxton, J.R. & G.R. Allen. 2006. Fishes. In Beesley, P.L. & A. Wells. (eds) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Volume 35. ABRS & CSIRO Publishing: Australia. parts 1-3, pages 1-2178.
  3. Kuiter, R.H. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. New Holland. Pp. 433.
  4. Randall, J.E. 2005. Reef and Shore Fishes of the South Pacific: New Caledonia to Tahiti and the Pitcairn Islands.University of Hawai'i Press. Pp. 584.
  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.