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Goldsaddle goatfish facts for kids

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Goldsaddle goatfish
Yellowsaddle goatfish parupeneus cyclostomus.JPG
Conservation status
Not evaluated (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Phylum:
Class:
Order:
Family:
Mullidae
Genus:
Parupeneus
Species:
P. cyclostomus
Binomial name
Parupeneus cyclostomus
(Lacépède, 1801)
Synonyms

See text

The goldsaddle goatfish (Parupeneus cyclostomus) or the yellowsaddle goatfish, is a species of goatfish native to the Indo-Pacific. It is a commercially important species, as well as being sought out as a game fish, though it has been reported as carrying the ciguatera toxin. It can also be found in the aquarium trade.

Description

This fish is usually colored yellow with a bluish sheen to the dorsal part, but with a golden yellow variant. It can reach 50 cm (20 in) in total length, though most do not exceed 35 cm (14 in).

Habitat and distribution

It occurs solitarily or in groups, in all areas of the coral reefs and detrital bottom area from 1 to 95 m deep. It uses its barbels to probe holes and force out prey.

It is found in the Indo-Pacific from the Red Sea to South Africa, the Hawaiian Islands, and the Ryukyu Islands.

Synonyms

Several other names have been applied to this species that have been subsequently determined to be junior synonyms:

  • Mullus cyclostomus Lacépède, 1801
  • Pseudupeneus cyclostomus (Lacépède, 1801)
  • Mullus chryserydros Lacépède, 1801
  • Parupeneus chryserydros (Lacépède, 1801)
  • Mullus radiatus G. Shaw, 1803
  • Upeneus immaculatus E. T. Bennett, 1831
  • Upeneus luteus Valenciennes, 1831
  • Parupeneus luteus (Valenciennes, 1831)
  • Upeneus oxycephalus Bleeker, 1856
  • Upeneus chryserythrus Günther, 1873
  • Parupeneus xanthospilurus Bleeker, 1875
  • Mullus microps Bliss, 1883
  • Upeneus saffordi Seale, 1901
  • Pseudupeneus aurantiacus Seale, 1906

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Parupeneus cyclostomus para niños

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