Common name: bandedtail goatfish

Synonyms and Other Names: yellowbanded goatfish

Taxonomy: available through www.itis.gov

Identification: Upeneus vittatus has a moderately elongate body with a somewhat pointed snout (Randall 2005). Randall and Kulbicki (2006) describe this species as having two well-separated dorsal fins with a forked caudal fin; four yellow stripes; a pair of long barbels at the front of the chin; the upper lobe of the caudal fin with five dark brown to black bands with the lower lobe having three bands; and the first dorsal fin with two horizontal brown bands and a black tip.

Size: Up to 28 cm total length (Randall 2005)

Native Range: Indo-Pacific from South Africa and the Red Sea to Japan, New Caledonia, Micronesia, the Society Islands, and the Marquesas (Mundy 2005).

Interactive maps: Point Distribution Maps

Ecology: Upeneus vittatus inhabits sandy lagoons and sheltered coastal waters to a depth of 100 m, often in groups of up to 50 individuals (Myers 1999). This species feeds primarily on shrimp and crabs, but also polychaete worms, bivalves, and fish (Randall and Kulbicki 2006; Sabrah and El-Ganainy 2009; Ramakrishnan et al. 2020). Goatfish use their barbels, which possess chemosensory organs, to forage for prey (Randall 2005). When not feeding, the barbels are folded posteriorly under the chin and gill covers (Gosline 1984). Each barbel can move independently and can be used to excavate prey items from holes or crevices on or slightly below the substrate (Gosline 1984). Foraging reef fish often follow goatfish to take advantage of this tactic for an easy meal (Gosline 1984). The barbels are not solely used in foraging, but also used in competitive displays between males and courtship displays. Males have been observed charging and wriggling their barbels at each other perhaps in a competitive comparison of barbels (Filkovsky and Springer 2010). During courtship displays males rapidly wriggle their barbels towards females (Randall 2005). Spawning occurs at dusk with groups of goatfish aggregating at the bottom and rising rapidly in pairs to release eggs and sperm high in the water column (Lobel and Lobel 2013). This species grows rapidly, reaching maturity in the first year with an estimated lifespan of approximately three years (Sabrah and El-Ganainy 2009). Little is known about the length of larval stage for this species, but other species in the genus have a larval stage of 25-37 days (McCormick 1992).

Means of Introduction: Randall (1981, 1987) suggested that the species was inadvertanly introduced in 1955 from the Marquesas; the intended species for introduction was the Marquesan sardine Sardinella marquesensis. However, Springer (1982) proposed that the species could have recruited to the Hawaiian Islands by dispersal from Japanese waters.

Status: Established in Hawaii.

Impact of Introduction: The impacts of this species are currently unknown, as no studies have been done to determine how it has affected ecosystems in the invaded range. The absence of data does not equate to lack of effects. It does, however, mean that research is required to evaluate effects before conclusions can be made.

References: (click for full references)

Filkovsky, G., and J.T. Springer. 2010. Interactive use of barbels by spotted goatfish Pseudupeneus maculatus (Bloch, 1793) on the reef of Bonaire, Lesser Antilles. The Open Marine Biology Journal 4:22-124.

Gosline, W.A. 1984. Structure, function, and ecology in the goatfishes (Family Mullidae). Pacific Science 38:312-323.

Lobel, P.S., and L.K. Lobel. 2013. Stalking spawning fishes in Lang, M.A., and M.D.J. Sayer (eds). Proceedings of the 2013 AAUS/ESDP Curacao Joint International Scientific Diving Symposium, October 24-27, 2013, Curacao, Dauphin Island, AL: American Academy of Underwater Sciences.

McCormick, M.I. 1992. The influence of pelagic life history on the quality of tropical goatfish (family Mullidae) at settlement. PhD thesis, James Cook University of North Queensland, Australia.

Mundy, B. C.  2005.  Checklist of fishes from the Hawaiian Archipelago.  Bishop Museum Bulletins in Zoology, Number 6.

Myers, R.F. 1999. Micronesian reef fishes: A field guide for divers and aquarists. Coral Graphics, Guam.

Ramakrishnan, L.A., A. Muthusamy, and R. Kannan. 2020. Food and feeding habits of Upeneus vittatus (Forsskal, 1775) from Gulf of Mannar coast (Mandapam, Tamil Nadu) of India. Indian Journal of Sciences 10:18077-18083.

Randall, J. E.  1981.  New records of fish from the Hawaiian Islands.  Pacific Science 34: 211-232.

Randall, J. E.  1987.  Introductions of marine fishes to the Hawaiian Islands.  Bulletin of Marine Science 41: 490-502.Randall, J.E. 2005. Reef and shore fishes of the South Pacific. University of Hawaii Press, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA.

Randall, J.E., and M. Kulbicki. 2006. A review of the goatfishes of the genus Upeneus (Perciformes: Mullidae) from New Caledonia and the Chesterfield Bank, with a new species and four new records. Zoological Studies 45:298-307.

Sabrah, M.M., and A.A. El-Ganainy. 2009. Observation on biological traits of striped goatfish (Upeneus vittatus) and freckled goatfish (Upeneus tragula) from the Gulf of Suez, Egypt. World Journal of Fish and Marine Sciences 1(2): 121-128.

Springer, V. G.  1982.  Pacific Plate biogeography, with species reference to shorefishes.  Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology 367: 1-182.

Other Resources:

Author: Brown, M.E. and Schofield, P.J.

Peer Review Date: 3/3/2006

This information is preliminary or provisional and is subject to revision. It is being provided to meet the need for timely best science. The information has not received final approval by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and is provided on the condition that neither the USGS nor the U.S. Government shall be held liable for any damages resulting from the authorized or unauthorized use of the information.