Scientific Name
Upeneus tragula

Common Name
Freckled goatfish

Biology
Dorsal spines (total): 8; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9; Anal spines: 1; Anal soft rays: 7. This species is distinguished by the following characters: D VIII,9; pectoral fins 13-14, usually 13 (in 11 of 14 specimens); gill rakers 5-6 + 14-17 = 19-23; lateral line scales 28-30; body depth at first dorsal fin origin 22-26% SL and at anus 20-22% SL; caudal-peduncle depth 9.9-11% SL; maximum head depth 19-23% SL; head depth through eye 15-17% SL; head length 27-31%SL; orbit length 6.1-8.3% SL; upper jaw length 11-14% SL; barbel length 15-18% SL; caudal-fin length 28-32% SL; anal-fin height 16-19% SL; pelvic-fin length 20-24% SL; pectoral-fin length 19-21% SL; first dorsal-fin height 21-24% SL; second dorsal-fin height 18-22% SL; 10-12 (or more; 7-10 in juveniles 83903).

Classification

Classified By

Richardson, 1846

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Perch-like fish (Perciformes)

Family

Goatfishes (Mullidae)

Distribution

Region

Indo-West Pacific, East Africa to New Caledonia, north to Japan.

Distribution

Indo-West Pacific, East Africa to New Caledonia, north to Japan.

Range

30°N - 25°S

Environment

Climate

Tropical

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

10 m

Depth To - meters

50 m

Zone

reef-associated

Environment

Marine; brackish; reef-associated; oceanodromous (Ref. 51243); depth range 10 - 50 m (Ref. 83903)

Trophic Level

3.57 s.e. 0.58 Based on diet studies.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

True

Occurs in Fresh Water

False

Occurs on Reefs

True

Is kept in Aquariums

True

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

33.0 cm

Common Length

25.0 cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.5000 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: commercial; aquarium: commercial

Vulnerability

Low vulnerability (21 of 100)

Resilience

High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated