Teleostei (teleosts) >
Mulliformes (Goatfishes) >
Mullidae (Goatfishes)
Etymology: Upeneus: Greek, ypene, -es = upper lip (Ref. 45335).
More on author: Lachner.
Issue
FishBase common name changed from Short-fin goatfish to Shortfin goatfish (Uiblein et al., 2024: Ref. 130857).
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; reef-associated; depth range 0 - 13 m (Ref. 95469). Tropical
Western Indian Ocean: Persian Gulf.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 17.0 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 83903)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Dorsal spines (total): 8; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9. This species is distinguished by the following characters: D VIII + 9; pectoral fins 13-14; gill rakers 4-7 + 15-18 = 20-24; lateral line scales 29-31; body depth at first dorsal fin origin 22-26% SL and at anus 19-22% SL; caudal-peduncle depth 9.6-11% SL, width 2.2-4.1% SL; maximum head depth 19-23% SL; head depth through eye 15-19% SL; head length 29-33%SL; postorbital length 12-13% SL; orbit length 5.5-8.1% SL; upper jaw length 11-14% SL; barbel length 16-22% SL; caudal-peduncle length 20-25% SL; caudal-fin length 24-28% SL; anal-fin height 15-17% SL; pelvic-fin length 18-22% SL; pectoral-fin length 18-22% SL, width 3.6-5.4% SL; first dorsal-fin height 18-22% SL; second dorsal-fin height 16-18% SL; postorbital length 1.2-1.4 times in anal-fin height; all fins possess dark brown or black stripes, bars or blotches; 6-10 oblique bars on caudal fin in adults (6 or less in juveniles > 7 cm SL), 3-5 brown, dark brown or black bars on upper caudal-fin lobe, 3-4 brown, dark brown or black bars on lower lobe; a dark-brown or black mid-lateral body stripe from tip of snout to caudal-fin base; body and head ground colour white or
beige, slightly darker above lateral line, with irregular dark brown or black spots, dots and blotches; barbels are yellow or pale brown; most of body and fin pigmentation retained on preserved fish (Ref. 95469).
Body shape (shape guide): fusiform / normal.
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Uiblein, F. and P.C. Heemstra, 2010. A taxonomic review of the Western Indian Ocean goatfishes of the genus Upeneus (Family Mullidae), with descriptions of four new species. Smithiana 11:35-71. (Ref. 83903)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
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