Domain |    Eukarya |
Kingdom |    Animalia |
Phylum |    Chordata |
Family |    Mullidae |
Description |    Goatfishes |
Environment |    Brackish & Marine |
Etymology |    Latin, mullus = soft |
Genus |    6 |
No. of Species |    87 |
Order |    Perciformes |
Class |    Actinopterygii |
Reproductive Guild |    Nonguarders |
Distribution |    Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans, rarely in brackish waters. Elongated body. Dorsal fins far apart. First dorsal fin with 6-8 spines; second dorsal with one spine and 8-9 soft rays, shorter than anal fin. Spines in anal fin 1 or 2, with 5-8 soft rays. Forked caudal fin. Vertebrae 24. Chin with 2 long barbels, which contain chemosensory organs and are used to probe the sand or holes in the reef for benthic invertebrates or small fish. Many brightly colored. Pelagic spawners. Up to 60 cm maximum length. Valued as food fish. Not popular for aquaria, but do well in right settings. Mullus (Latin) = mullet. Habitat: sand-associated, shallow habitats |
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Summary of Distribution: Indo-Pacific: Persian Gulf; Red Sea and East Africa to the Hawaiian, Marquesan, and Ducie islands, north to the Ryukyu and Bonin Islands, south to Lord Howe and Rapa Islands. Common throughout most of its range |
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Note: Distribution range colors indicate degree of suitability of habitat which can be interpreted as probabilities of occurrence (fishbase.org) |
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