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Mulliformes (Goatfishes) >
Mullidae (Goatfishes)
Etymology: Upeneus: Greek, ypene, -es = upper lip (Ref. 45335); australiae: Named for its type locality, Australia.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; demersal; depth range 3 - 82 m (Ref. 86942), usually 20 - 30 m (Ref. 98481). Tropical
Eastern Indian Ocean and Western Pacific: Australia and off New Caledonia.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 16.0 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 98481)
Dorsal spines (total): 7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9; Anal spines: 1; Anal soft rays: 7; Vertebrae: 24. This species is distinguished by the following characters: D VII + 9; pectoral fins 13-15; gill rakers 5-7 + 16-19 = 22-25. Adult measurements in %SL: body depth at first dorsal-fin origin 23-27 and at anus 20-23; caudal-peduncle depth 9.9-12; maximum head depth 20-22, while head depth through eye 15-18; head length 27-30; orbit length 6.0-8.0; upper jaw length 9.3-12; barbel length 16-20; caudal-fin length 27-32; anal-fin height 15-18; pelvic-fin length 20-23; pectoral-fin length 19-22; first dorsal-fin height 18-23 and second dorsal-fin height 14-18. Colouration: caudal fin with 7-13 bars in total, the upper caudal-fin lobe with 5-6 brown or black bars close to fin base, its width similar or narrower than the pale interspaces between bars; and the lower lobe with 6-8 bars of similar width as those on upper lobe, pale interspaces narrower and the 2-3 distal-most bars (one on tip) darker and wider; these caudal-fin lobe bars are mostly well-retained in preserved fish, especially on dorsal side of lower lobe; barbels are white; body and head white-silvery or pale beige, dark beige above lateral line, with a yellow-orange lateral body stripe from behind eye to caudal fin base in fresh fish; when preserved the body is pale brown and darkened dorsally (Ref. 98481).
Body shape (shape guide): fusiform / normal; Cross section: oval.
Subadults and adults of this species occur at relatively shallow depths of the upper shelf and usually around 20-30 m (Ref. 98481). Adults feed mainly on shrimp (47%).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Kim, B.-J. and K. Nakaya, 2002. Upeneus australiae, a new goatfish (Mullidae:Perciformes) from Australia. Ichthyol. Res. 49(2):128-132. (Ref. 43139)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: commercial
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