Home · Mullidae · Bartaiedl goatfish
Bartaiedl goatfish (Upeneus tragula) — Mullidae

Bartaiedl goatfish

Upeneus tragula
Family: Mullidae
LC · Least Concern

The Bartaiedl goatfish (Upeneus tragula) is a brackish-water fish of the family Mullidae that grows up to 30 cm.

Length
30 cm
Water
Brackish
Depth
0.0–42.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Small groups
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Commonly eaten

Description

The freckled goatfish is a goatfish of the family Mullidae widely distributed across the Indo-West Pacific. The species has a pale body with a red-brown lateral stripe and numerous freckles, and reaches about 30 cm. Under the chin it bears a pair of long barbels with which it probes the bottom for small bottom animals. It lives on sandy bottoms in shallow coastal waters and sometimes enters the lower reaches of rivers, where it tolerates lowered salinities. The species is of commercial importance and is regularly eaten.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Bartaiedl goatfish?

The Bartaiedl goatfish has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly white and shows a spots pattern.

Where does the Bartaiedl goatfish live?

The Bartaiedl goatfish lives in brackish water and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground.

How big does the Bartaiedl goatfish get?

The Bartaiedl goatfish grows to a maximum of about 30 cm.

Is the Bartaiedl goatfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Bartaiedl goatfish is harmless to humans.

Is the Bartaiedl goatfish edible?

Yes, the Bartaiedl goatfish is commonly eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Gespikkelde mul sourced
English name
Bartaiedl goatfish verified
Scientific name
Upeneus tragula
Family
Mullidae
Other names
Bartail goatfish; Bar-tail goatfish; Bar-tailed goatfish; Blackband goatfish; Blackstriped goatfish verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
30.0 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
White inferred
Pattern
Spots inferred
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Mouth position
Inferior (downward) inferred
Lips
Thin inferred
Barbels
Yes sourced
Dorsal fins
Two separate inferred
Dorsal spines
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Brackish sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
0.0 verified
Max depth (m)
42.0 verified
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Small groups inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten sourced
Fishing method
Vissen met natuurlijk aas (vis, garnaal, worm) of kunstaas dicht bij rif- en rotsstructuren. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Upeneus

More from the family Mullidae

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