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Home › Ocean Life › Marine Creatures › Vertebrates › Goatfish

Fun Facts about Goatfish Species

[Phylum: Chordata] [Class: Actinopterygii] [Order: Syngnathiformes] [Family: Mullidae]

Two "whisker-like" chin barbels protruding from the lower jaw, an elongated slender body, and soft forked tail fins are the standout features of the goatfish family (Mullidae) - often called red mullets.

This section contains facts and information about goatfishes, including what they eat, where they thrive best, and how these pelagic spawners reproduce.

Habitat and Geographical Range of Goatfish

If you're a diver or a snorkeler, most likely you already know the kind of reef habitats that goatfishes prefer.

They thrive in the littoral zones of tropical, subtropical, and even some temperate waters worldwide, but especially:

• Atlantic Ocean
• Indian Ocean
• Mediterranean Sea
• Pacific Ocean

Mullidae is a large, diverse family that includes over sixty different species of goatfish. The exact population status of goatfishes is difficult to establish. But, the general population trend is not a huge concern for conservationists.

They are commonplace around coastal rocky shorelines, coral reef formations, and the sea floor of tidal pools and estuaries.

Goatfish Behaviour and Characteristics

One of the main features of goatfish are their chin barbels - used to probe for food. These whisker-like appendages contain a specialised sensory system known as chemosensory organs.

They have a deep and elongated body and the tail is "forked" with wide dorsal fins. Most of the species have bright colouring and body markings, especially yellow, red, black, and brown.

The largest of the species is the dash-and-dot goatfish - which can grow up to sixty (60) centimetres in length (24 inches). Whereas, the gold-saddle goatfish ranks among the smallest of all goatfish species.

3 Fun Facts about Goatfish

It's fair to say these bottom-dwelling ray-finned vertebrates are fascinating marine creatures. Here are three fun facts about these common perciformes:

• They have superb colour-changing abilities. In other words, they can change their body colouration and blend in with their surroundings (or to communicate with other fishes). This remarkable camouflage skill helps them surprise their prey and avoid their natural predators (e.g. groupers).
• We have a long list of funny scientific fish names in another section. But, the term "goatfish" comes from the goatee-like barbels on the lower jaw that they use to detect and dig up small invertebrates hiding in the sand or muddy seabed.
• Goatfishes often act like social butterflies and sometimes congregate in groups of mixed species. Yet, they tend to break away from the group to forage by themselves when hunting for food.

What Do Goatfishes Eat?

Goatfish are opportunistic carnivores and very efficient ocean-floor hunters. They feed most on small invertebrates that are seeking refuge in the sediment, especially small crustacean animals. Even so, these active benthic feeders will also eat:

• Clams
• Crabs
• Echinoderms (e.g. brittle stars)
• Heart urchins (Spatangoida)
• Marine mollusks
• Polychaete worms
• Sea snails
• Shrimps
• Small octopus and fish fry

It's also common for other fish to join in the frenzy in a process called "shadow feeding" or cooperative hunting - which means they wait in line and munch on any overlooked prey.

How Do Goatfish Reproduce?

Being a typical pelagic spawner means males and females release lots of buoyant eggs and sperm (gametes) into the water column at the same time.

The larvae drift with any floating plankton until fertilisation takes place. This part of the reproductive process might take up to eight (8) weeks before the hatching phase is complete.

Following a broadcast spawning event, juveniles become adults (metamorphose) and start to develop their unique chin barbels. In general, most of the goatfish species will reach reproductive maturity within two (2) years.

Note: This method of reproduction ensures wide dispersal of their offspring. It helps to maintain genetic diversity and the colonisation of new areas. But, it also means many eggs and larvae die, due to unfavourable conditions or predation.

Threats and Predators

Due to their moderate size and abundance, goatfish are preyed upon by various large marine animals, especially barracudas, grouper fish, rays, reef sharks, snappers, and trevallies.

In addition, some diving seabirds may also target goatfish, especially the juveniles in shallow water, when they're within easy reach.

Humans also eat goatfish for the mild, delicate flavour. Hence, they have become a popular target for fishermen and valued as a food source in many cultures.

Pro Tip: The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species last assessed many of the goatfish phylum in 2019. They cited almost all of the species as being of "Least Concern" (LC). However, they list SAIAB goatfish (Upeneus saiab) as being an "Endangered" (EN) species with a decreasing population trend in the Western Indian Ocean.

Goatfish Species List

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