Teleostei (teleosts) >
Mulliformes (Goatfishes) >
Mullidae (Goatfishes)
Etymology: Parupeneus: Latin, parum, parvum = small + Peneus, the name of a river.
More on authors: Randall & Guézé.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; reef-associated; depth range 1 - 55 m (Ref. 54393). Tropical
Western Indian Ocean: Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman to western Pakistan.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 23.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 11441)
Dorsal spines (total): 8; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9; Anal spines: 1; Anal soft rays: 7; Vertebrae: 24. Diagnosis: Pectoral rays 15-17 (usually 16). Gill rakers 6-8 + 22-25 (total 29-33). Body moderately elongate, the depth 3.5-4.05 in SL (to 4.35 in juveniles); head length (HL) 2.75-3.0 in SL; snout length 1.75-2.3 in head length; upper-jaw length 3.0-3.5 in HL; barbels relatively short, 1.4-1.65 in HL; third dorsal spine longest, 1.65-1.95 in HL; last dorsal soft ray only slightly longer than penultimate ray; pectoral-fin length 1.5-1.7 in HL; pelvic-fin length 1.5-1.8 in HL. Gray to brownish red dorsally, whitish to light red ventrally, with a small pearly white to pale blue spot on each scale of body below the lateral line (center of scales on body above lateral line whitish but not as a distinct spot); an elongate white spot anteriorly on upper side of caudal peduncle, sometimes followed by a dusky spot of about the same size; a brown band on snout from upper lip to eye, often continuing onto postorbital head and narrowly a short distance onto body (band usually not persisting in preservative) (Ref. 54393).
Body shape (shape guide): fusiform / normal; Cross section: compressed.
Occurs on open sand or silty sand bottom or on sand and rubble in the vicinity of reefs or rocky outcrops (Ref. 54393).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Randall, J.E., 2004. Revision of the goatfish genus Parupeneus (Perciformes: Mullidae), with descriptions of two new species. Indo-Pac. Fish. (36):64 p. (Ref. 54393)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: bycatch
Tools
Special reports
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Internet sources
Estimates based on models
Preferred temperature (Ref.
123201): 25.5 - 29.3, mean 27.3 °C (based on 238 cells).
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.01175 (0.00543 - 0.02542), b=3.10 (2.93 - 3.27), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this Genus-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.4 ±0.4 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Resilience (Ref.
120179): High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (13 of 100).
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Nutrients (Ref.
124155): Calcium = 45.6 [21.7, 105.3] mg/100g; Iron = 0.344 [0.174, 0.796] mg/100g; Protein = 17.9 [14.5, 20.9] %; Omega3 = 0.135 [0.075, 0.244] g/100g; Selenium = 48.2 [22.5, 116.8] μg/100g; VitaminA = 232 [45, 991] μg/100g; Zinc = 0.597 [0.348, 1.126] mg/100g (wet weight);
