Goatfish

COMMON NAME

Goatfish

SCIENTIFIC NAME

Upeneichtys Lineatus

LEGAL LENGTH & LIMIT

No Legal length or limit

DESCRIPTION

The New Zealand goatfish also known as the red mullet can be easily identified by twin barbells hanging beneath its chin. These provide sensitive taste buds. The goat fish has the chameleon ability to make lightning-quick changes of both color and pattern. While being cleaned it may flush brilliant red, perhaps to render the skin parasites more visible by contrast. At night goatfishes rest in the open on sand or under rock ledges. At night their bodies are pinkish, with darker red splotches, through which runs a red band along the lateral line. To maximize size both dorsal fins are erect. Goatfishes mostly move about in loose schools varying from about 5 to 15 individuals of different size seldom more than 2m above the bottom. Within the kelp beds they are more often seen swimming above the rocks and sand. They range in depth from the shallows down to 60m. The goat fish is present around New Zealand but is mainly found in the north island waters

HABITAT & FEEDING

Their mouth is protractile, angled downward, and the fish gulps its prey along with a fair amount of sand which is expelled through the gills. Their tiny teeth are unsuited to crushing shellfish or larger food, but they can seize smaller fishes hiding on the sand.

AGE & GROWTH

Male goat fish can become more than twice as big as females up to 17cm in length.
Goatfishes are seen in courtship colors during December and January, with a blue tinge to their bodies and fins. At this time males establish breeding territories, repelling other males and courting females with elaborate displays of their handsome fins,