Goatfish

Body pale tan with distinctive yellow stripe from eye to caudal fin; tail yellow. Less brightly colored than other species and is the only one with a single yellow stripe along side (Ref. 26938).

Dorsal spines (total): 9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 8; Analspines: 2; Analsoft rays: 6

Found over sandy areas of lagoon and seaward reefs (Ref. 9710). Juveniles are common in seagrass beds (Ref. 9710). Often in schools (Ref. 26938). Forms schools with the smallmouth grunt (Haemulon chrysargyreum), an association regarded as social protective mimicry (Ref. 52492). Feeds on benthic invertebrates (Ref. 7313). Feeds mostly on benthic organisms (Ref. 33, 26338). Microinvertivore (Ref. 33499, 057616).

Found over sandy areas of lagoon and seaward reefs (Ref. 9710). Often in schools (Ref. 26938). Forms schools with the smallmouth grunt (Haemulon chrysargyreum), an association regarded as social protective mimicry (Ref. 52492). Juveniles are common in seagrass beds (Ref. 9710). Feeds on benthic invertebrates (Ref. 7313). Marketed fresh (Ref. 3792).

fisheries: minor commercial; price category: medium; price reliability: very questionable: based on ex-vessel price for species in this family