# Goatfish > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Goatfish > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Goatfish.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goatfish > Source revision: 1343592967 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|Family of ray-finned fishes}} {{For|the mythological creature|sea goat}} {{Automatic taxobox | image = Mulloidichthys vanicolensis, Jemeluk Wall, Amed, Bali, Indonesia imported from iNaturalist photo 429994681.jpg | image_caption = [Yellowfin goatfish](/source/Yellowfin_goatfish) | taxon = Mullidae | authority = [Rafinesque](/source/Constantine_Samuel_Rafinesque), 1815{{cite journal | author1 = Richard van der Laan | author2 = William N. Eschmeyer | author3 = Ronald Fricke | name-list-style = amp |year=2014 | title = Family-group names of Recent fishes | url = https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3882.1.1/10480 | journal = Zootaxa | volume = 3882 | issue =2 | pages = 001–230| doi = 10.11646/zootaxa.3882.1.1 | pmid = 25543675 | doi-access = free }} | subdivision_ranks = Genera | subdivision = see text }} The '''goatfishes''', or '''mullets''', are [ray-finned fish](/source/ray-finned_fish) of the family '''Mullidae''', the only family in the suborder '''Mulloidei''' of the order [Syngnathiformes](/source/Syngnathiformes).{{cite journal |title=Eschmeyer's Catalog of Fishes Classification - California Academy of Sciences |website=www.calacademy.org |url=https://www.calacademy.org/scientists/catalog-of-fishes-classification/ |access-date=23 November 2024 |language=en}} The family is also sometimes referred to as the [red mullet](/source/red_mullet)s, which also refers more narrowly to the genus ''[Mullus](/source/Mullus)''. The family name and the English common name mullet derived from Latin ''mullus'', the [red mullet](/source/red_mullet); other than the red mullet and the [striped red mullet](/source/striped_red_mullet) or surmullet, the English word "mullet" generally refers to a different family of fish, the [Mugilidae](/source/Mugilidae) or gray mullets.''[Oxford English Dictionary](/source/Oxford_English_Dictionary)'', [http://www.oed.com/view/Entry/123486 ''s.v.'' 'mullet'] == Taxonomy == === Evolution === Due to their relatively nondescript body plan, the phylogenetic affinities of goatfishes have long been uncertain, outside of their being [percomorphs](/source/Percomorpha). In the past, they were placed in an expanded treatment of [Perciformes](/source/Perciformes), which is now known to be [paraphyletic](/source/Paraphyly).{{cite book |author1=Nelson, JS |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kLDDCwAAQBAJ&q=Macroramphosus+Nelson&pg=PA410 |title=Classification of fishes from Fishes of the World 5th Edition |author2=Grande, TC |author3=Wilson, MVH |publisher=John Wiley & Sons |year=2016 |isbn=978-1119220817 |page=410 |name-list-style=amp}}{{cite journal |author1=S.J. Longo |author2=B.C. Faircloth |author3=A. Meyer |author4=M.W. Westneat |author5=M.E. Alfaroe |author6=P.C. Wainwright |name-list-style=amp |year=2017 |title=Phylogenomic analysis of a rapid radiation of misfit fishes (Syngnathiformes) using ultraconserved elements |url=https://escholarship.org/uc/item/28g215mc |journal=Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution |volume=113 |issue=August 2017 |pages=33–48 |doi=10.1016/j.ympev.2017.05.002 |pmid=28487262 |s2cid=13929577 |doi-access=free}} Abstract. More recent studies incorporating phylogenetics have found them to belong to the order [Syngnathiformes](/source/Syngnathiformes), which also contains [seahorses](/source/Seahorse), [pipefish](/source/pipefish), and [flying gurnards](/source/Dactylopteridae). Specifically, they belong to a "benthic clade" also containing gurnards, [seamoths](/source/Pegasidae), and [dragonets](/source/Callionymoidei), with the dragonets being their closest relatives. This divergence likely occurred during a rapid but ancient radiation of the Syngnathiformes during the [Late Cretaceous](/source/Late_Cretaceous), explaining both the physical differences between goatfish and other Syngnathiformes, as well as the past difficulty in determining their phylogenetic affinities.{{cite journal |author1=S.J. Longo |author2=B.C. Faircloth |author3=A. Meyer |author4=M.W. Westneat |author5=M.E. Alfaroe |author6=P.C. Wainwright |name-list-style=amp |year=2017 |title=Phylogenomic analysis of a rapid radiation of misfit fishes (Syngnathiformes) using ultraconserved elements |url=https://escholarship.org/uc/item/28g215mc |journal=Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution |volume=113 |issue=August 2017 |pages=33–48 |doi=10.1016/j.ympev.2017.05.002 |pmid=28487262 |s2cid=13929577 |doi-access=free}} Abstract.{{Cite journal |last=Brownstein |first=C D |date=2023-01-10 |title=Syngnathoid Evolutionary History and the Conundrum of Fossil Misplacement |journal=Integrative Organismal Biology |language=en |volume=5 |issue=1 |doi=10.1093/iob/obad011 |issn=2517-4843 |pmc=10210065 |pmid=37251781}}{{Cite web |last=Fricke |first=R. |last2=Eschmeyer |first2=W. N. |last3=Van der Laan |first3=R. |date=2025 |title=ESCHMEYER'S CATALOG OF FISHES: CLASSIFICATION |url=https://www.calacademy.org/eschmeyers-catalog-of-fishes-classification |access-date=2025-02-10 |website=California Academy of Sciences |language=en}} === Genera === These genera are classified as belonging to the Mullidae:{{Cof family|family=Mullidae|access-date=3 April 2020}} * ''[Mulloidichthys](/source/Mulloidichthys)'' [Whitley](/source/Gilbert_Percy_Whitley), 1929 * ''[Mullus](/source/Mullus)'' [Linnaeus](/source/Carolus_Linnaeus), 1758 * ''[Parupeneus](/source/Parupeneus)'' [Bleeker](/source/Pieter_Bleeker), 1863 * ''[Pseudupeneus](/source/Pseudupeneus)'' Bleeker, 1862 * ''[Upeneichthys](/source/Upeneichthys)'' Bleeker, 1853 * ''[Upeneus](/source/Upeneus)'' [Cuvier](/source/Georges_Cuvier), 1829 ==Description== Goatfish are characterized by two chin barbels (or [goatee](/source/goatee)), which contain chemosensory organs and are used to probe the sand or holes in the reef for food. Their bodies are deep and elongated, with forked tails and widely separated [dorsal fin](/source/dorsal_fin)s.{{cite book |editor=Paxton, J.R. |editor2=Eschmeyer, W.N.|author1=Johnson, G.D. |author2=Gill, A.C.|year=1998|title=Encyclopedia of Fishes|publisher= Academic Press|location=San Diego|pages= 186|isbn= 0-12-547665-5}} The first dorsal fin has six to eight spines; the second dorsal has one spine and 8–9 soft rays, shorter than anal fin. There are one or two spines in the anal fin with five to eight soft rays. They have 24 vertebrae.{{cite web|title=Family Details for Mullidae - Goatfishes|url=http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/FamilySummary.php?ID=332|website=www.fishbase.org|access-date=5 April 2016}} Many goatfish are brightly colored. The largest species, the [dash-and-dot goatfish](/source/dash-and-dot_goatfish) (''Parupeneus barberinus''), grows to {{convert|60|cm|in|abbr=on}} in length; most species are less than half this size. Within the family are six [genera](/source/Genus) and about 86 [species](/source/species). ==Distribution and habitat== Goatfish are distributed worldwide in tropical, subtropical, and temperate waters, in a range of habitats. Most species are associated with the bottom of the [littoral](/source/littoral_zone), but some species of ''[Upeneus](/source/Upeneus)'' can be deep; for example, the goatfish ''[Upeneus davidaromi](/source/Upeneus_davidaromi)'' can be found at depths of {{convert|500|m|ft}}. Tropical goatfish live in association with coral reefs. Some species, such as the [freckled goatfish](/source/freckled_goatfish) (''Upeneus tragula''), enter [estuaries](/source/estuary) and [river](/source/river)s, although not to any great extent. ==Ecology== [[File:Whitesaddle goatfish 2.jpg|thumb|''[Parupeneus biaculeatus](/source/Parupeneus_biaculeatus)'' foraging for food]] Goatfish are [benthic](/source/benthic) feeders, using a pair of long [chemosensory](/source/chemosensory) [barbel](/source/barbel_(anatomy))s (whiskers) protruding from their chins to feel through the sediments in search of prey. They feed on [worm](/source/worm)s, [crustacea](/source/crustacea)ns, [mollusc](/source/mollusc)s and other small [invertebrate](/source/invertebrate)s. Other fish shadow the active goatfish, waiting patiently for any overlooked prey. For example, in Indonesia large schools of the [goldsaddle goatfish](/source/goldsaddle_goatfish) (''Parupeneus cyclostomus'') and moray eels hunt together. This behavior is known as shadow feeding or cooperative hunting. By day, many goatfish will form large [school](/source/Shoaling_and_schooling)s of inactive (nonfeeding) fish; these aggregates may contain both conspecifics and heterospecifics. For example, the yellowfin goatfish (''[Mulloidichthys vanicolensis](/source/Mulloidichthys_vanicolensis)'') is often seen congregating with [bluestripe snapper](/source/bluestripe_snapper)s (''Lutjanus kasmira''). All goatfish have the ability to change their coloration depending on their current activity. One notable example, the diurnal [goldsaddle goatfish](/source/goldsaddle_goatfish) (''Parupeneus cyclostomus'') can change from a lemon-yellow to a pale cream whilst feeding. ==Mimicry== [[File:Mulloidichthys mimicus and Lutjanus kasmira, Hakamaii, Ua-Pou, French Polynesia imported from iNaturalist photo 400415434.jpg|thumb|''[Mulloidichthys mimicus](/source/Mulloidichthys_mimicus)'' with ''[Lutjanus kasmira](/source/Common_bluestripe_snapper)'']] Goatfish have the ability to rapidly change color, and many species adopt a pale coloration when resting on the sand to blend with the background and become less visible to predators. These changes in color are reversible phenotypic changes and happen within seconds, many times during the lifespan of an individual. Two species, the mimic goatfish (''[Mulloidichthys mimicus](/source/Mulloidichthys_mimicus)'') and Ayliffe's goatfish (''[Mulloidichthys ayliffe](/source/Mulloidichthys_ayliffe)'') have evolved to mimic the blue-striped snapper (''[Lutjanus kasmira](/source/Lutjanus_kasmira)''), with which they often form schools. These are slow, genetic changes that have occurred during their evolution over many generations. ==Reproduction and life cycle== [[File:Yellow striped goatfish ( Parupeneus chrysopleuron ).jpg|thumb|''[Parupeneus chrysopleuron](/source/Parupeneus_chrysopleuron)'' (left) with ''[Parupeneus biaculeatus](/source/Parupeneus_biaculeatus)'' (right)]] Goatfish are pelagic spawners; they release many buoyant eggs into the water, which become part of the [plankton](/source/plankton). The eggs float freely with the currents until hatching. The larvae drift in oceanic waters or in the outer shelf for a period of 4–8 weeks until they metamorphose and develop barbels. Soon thereafter, most species take on a bottom-feeding lifestyle, although other species remain in the open water as juveniles or feed on plankton.Uiblein, F. (2007) Goatfishes (Mullidae) as indicators in tropical and temperate coastal habitat monitoring and management, Marine Biology Research, 3:5, 275–288, DOI: 10.1080/17451000701687129 Juvenile goatfish often prefer soft bottoms, in seagrass beds to mangroves. They change habitat preference as they develop, coinciding with changes in feeding habits, social behavior, and the formation of association with other species. Most species reach reproductive maturity after 1–2 years. ==Economic importance== Goatfish species are an important fishery in many areas of the world and some species are economically important. In ancient Rome until the end of the second century BCE, two species of goatfish (''[Mullus barbatus](/source/Mullus_barbatus)'' and ''[Mullus surmuletus](/source/Mullus_surmuletus)'') were highly sought-after and expensive, not as a delicacy, but for aesthetic pleasure, since the fish assume a variety of colors and shades also during death. Therefore, it was paramount to serve the fish live and let them die before the eyes of the guests.Andrews, Alfred C. (1949). "The Roman Craze for Surmullets". ''The Classical Weekly'' '''42''' (12). Miami. 186–88. ==Timeline== ImageSize = width:1000px height:auto barincrement:15px PlotArea = left:10px bottom:50px top:10px right:10px Period = from:-65.5 till:10 TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal ScaleMajor = unit:year increment:5 start:-65.5 ScaleMinor = unit:year increment:1 start:-65.5 TimeAxis = orientation:hor AlignBars = justify Colors = #legends id:CAR value:claret id:ANK value:rgb(0.4,0.3,0.196) id:HER value:teal id:HAD value:green id:OMN value:blue id:black value:black id:white value:white id:cenozoic value:rgb(0.54,0.54,0.258) id:paleogene value:rgb(0.99,0.6,0.32) id:paleocene value:rgb(0.99,0.65,0.37) id:eocene value:rgb(0.99,0.71,0.42) id:oligocene value:rgb(0.99,0.75,0.48) id:neogene value:rgb(0.999999,0.9,0.1) id:miocene value:rgb(0.999999,0.999999,0) id:pliocene value:rgb(0.97,0.98,0.68) id:quaternary value:rgb(0.98,0.98,0.5) id:pleistocene value:rgb(0.999999,0.95,0.68) id:holocene value:rgb(0.999,0.95,0.88) BarData= bar:eratop bar:space bar:periodtop bar:space bar:NAM1 bar:space bar:period bar:space bar:era PlotData= align:center textcolor:black fontsize:M mark:(line,black) width:25 shift:(7,-4) bar:periodtop from: -65.5 till: -55.8 color:paleocene text:[Paleocene](/source/Paleocene) from: -55.8 till: -33.9 color:eocene text:[Eocene](/source/Eocene) from: -33.9 till: -23.03 color:oligocene text:[Oligocene](/source/Oligocene) from: -23.03 till: -5.332 color:miocene text:[Miocene](/source/Miocene) from: -5.332 till: -2.588 color:pliocene text:[Plio.](/source/Plio.) from: -2.588 till: -0.0117 color:pleistocene text:[Pleist.](/source/Pleist.) from: -0.0117 till: 0 color:holocene text:[H.](/source/Holocene) bar:eratop from: -65.5 till: -23.03 color:paleogene text:[Paleogene](/source/Paleogene) from: -23.03 till: -2.588 color:neogene text:[Neogene](/source/Neogene) from: -2.588 till: 0 color:quaternary text:[Q.](/source/Quaternary) PlotData= align:left fontsize:M mark:(line,white) width:5 anchor:till align:left color:miocene bar:NAM1 from: -23.03 till: 0 text: [Mullus](/source/Mullus) PlotData= align:center textcolor:black fontsize:M mark:(line,black) width:25 bar:period from: -65.5 till: -55.8 color:paleocene text:[Paleocene](/source/Paleocene) from: -55.8 till: -33.9 color:eocene text:[Eocene](/source/Eocene) from: -33.9 till: -23.03 color:oligocene text:[Oligocene](/source/Oligocene) from: -23.03 till: -5.332 color:miocene text:[Miocene](/source/Miocene) from: -5.332 till: -2.588 color:pliocene text:[Plio.](/source/Plio.) from: -2.588 till: -0.0117 color:pleistocene text:[Pleist.](/source/Pleist.) from: -0.0117 till: 0 color:holocene text:[H.](/source/Holocene) bar:era from: -65.5 till: -23.03 color:paleogene text:[Paleogene](/source/Paleogene) from: -23.03 till: -2.588 color:neogene text:[Neogene](/source/Neogene) from: -2.588 till: 0 color:quaternary text:[Q.](/source/Quaternary) ==Gallery== Image:Parupeneus_insularis.jpg|''[Parupeneus insularis](/source/Parupeneus_insularis)'' Image:Mulloidichthys flavolineatus .jpg|''[Mulloidichthys flavolineatus](/source/Mulloidichthys_flavolineatus)'' off the coast of [Kona, Hawaii](/source/Kona%2C_Hawaii) Image:Yellow striped goatfish ( Parupeneus chrysopleuron ).jpg|A school of yellow-striped goatfish (''[Parupeneus chrysopleuron](/source/Parupeneus_chrysopleuron)'') and whitesaddle goatfish (''[Parupeneus ciliatus](/source/Parupeneus_ciliatus)'') searching food on the sandy bottom, northeast coast, Taiwan Image:Whitesaddle goatfish 2.jpg|Whitesaddle goatfish (''[Parupeneus ciliatus](/source/Parupeneus_ciliatus)'') searching food by digging the sandy bottom of Long-Dong Bay, Taiwan Image:Whitesaddle goatfish 1.jpg|Two whitesaddle goatfish (''[Parupeneus ciliatus](/source/Parupeneus_ciliatus)'') searching food by using a pair of long chemosensory barbels on the sandy bottom of Long-Dong Bay, Taiwan ==References== {{Reflist}} *{{FishBase family|family=Mullidae|year=2006|month=March}} {{Taxonbar|from=Q470850}} {{Authority control}} Category:Mullidae Category:Taxa named by Constantine Samuel Rafinesque --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Goatfish](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goatfish) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goatfish?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.