Mullus auratus

Mullus auratus Jordan & Gilbert, 1882
Red goatfish

photo by Cox, C.D.

Family:	Mullidae (Goatfishes)
Max. size:	25 cm TL (male/unsexed); 27 cm TL (female); max.weight: 291.0 g
Environment:	demersal; marine; depth range 9 - 91 m
Distribution:	Western Atlantic: Nova Scotia, Canada and Bermuda to Guyana. Rare north of Florida, USA; absent from Bahamas.
Diagnosis:	Dorsal spines (total): 9-9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 8-8; Anal spines: 2-2; Anal soft rays: 6-6. Red to reddish dorsally, grading to whitish ventrally, with 2 to 5 longitudinal yellow stripes that are generally not sharply defined. First dorsal fin with 2 orange to red stripes, the outer part of fin sometimes blackish. Second dorsal fin with 4 or 5 narrow reddish stripes. Caudal fin reddish. Snout short, the dorsal profile steep, forming an angle of about 60º and nearly straight. Interorbital space broad and flat. Teeth very small, in a villiform band in lower jaw, none in upper jaw. No spine in opercle (Ref 52648).
Biology:	Inhabits neritic waters, especially over sand or mud bottoms (Ref. 5217). Flesh considered excellent quality; marketed fresh (Ref. 3792).
IUCN Red List Status:	Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 29 January 2013 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:	harmless

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