Manybar goatfish facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Manybar goatfish |
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The manybar goatfish, also known as Parupeneus multifasciatus, is a type of goatfish. You can find this fish in the warm waters of the eastern Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean. They live in a wide area, from Christmas Island to the Hawaiian Islands, and from southern Japan down to Lord Howe Island.
In Hawaii, this fish has a special name: moano-nui-ka-lehua. This means "great moano of the lehua." Young manybar goatfish are called 'ahua or 'ohua, which means "seedling." The word Moano itself means a pale-red color in Hawaiian.
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What Does the Manybar Goatfish Look Like?
One easy way to spot a goatfish is by its "chin whiskers." These are actually special feelers called barbels that help them find food.
Manybar goatfish have different colors and patterns. You might see yellow or blue on the edges of their scales. They often have dark spots around their eyes and near their fins. They also have white and dark bars on their bodies.
Some common colors include red with black spots, or light red with no spots. Some are black with a yellow spot near their tail. Others can be purple-red with yellow and black spots.
Male manybar goatfish can grow up to about 35 centimeters (14 inches) long. Females are usually smaller, reaching about 18 centimeters (7 inches). They are ready to have babies when they are around 18 centimeters long. The heaviest manybar goatfish ever recorded weighed about 453 grams (almost 1 pound).
Baby manybar goatfish spend about 24 to 28 days floating in the open ocean before they settle down.
Where Does the Manybar Goatfish Live?
Manybar goatfish are common fish found near coral reefs. They like shallow waters, especially flat areas on reefs and the edges of reefs. They spend a lot of their time near the bottom of the ocean, which is called the benthic zone. You can find them at different depths, from the surface down to about 161 meters (528 feet) deep.
These fish are special because they are found only in certain places. They live only in three main areas: the Hawaiian Islands, the Marquesas Islands, and a large area called the Indo-Polynesian Province.
What Does the Manybar Goatfish Eat?
Manybar goatfish are active during the day. They use their chin whiskers to search for food. They mostly eat small crustaceans like tiny crabs and shrimp. They also eat small fish. Sometimes, they eat both plants and animals, which means they are omnivores.
Fishing Rules for Manybar Goatfish
In Hawaii, people often catch manybar goatfish using nets, traps, spears, or fishing poles. There are rules about how big a fish must be to keep it. In most of Hawaii, the fish must be at least 7 inches long. On the island of Maui, the minimum size is 8 inches. These rules help make sure there are enough fish for the future.
How People Use Manybar Goatfish
Manybar goatfish are considered a game fish, which means people enjoy catching them for sport. They are also good to eat! You can eat them raw, or cook them by broiling or baking.
This fish is also important for fishing businesses. It is caught and sold in markets. Sometimes, you can even find manybar goatfish in aquariums.
