Yellow Goatfish

Mulloidichthys martinicus is a species of goatfish native to the Atlantic Ocean around the coasts of Africa and the Americas. They are of minor importance to local commercial fisheries, even though they have been reported to carry the ciguatera toxin.

Description

This species can reach a length of 39.4 centimetres (15.5 in) TL, but most reach lengths only around 28 centimetres (11 in). Coloration: light olive above, whitish below; a single yellow stripe (generally with blue border) from eye to base of bright yellow tail fin; dorsal and anal fins yellowish. Body is elongate, cylindrical, underside of head and body nearly flat. Snout is blunt. Eyes are high on side of head. Mouth is small, at lower edge of head, protrusible, top jaw is not reaching to under front of eye. It has relatively small villiform or conical teeth; no teeth on roof of mouth. Chin is with a pair of large, long barbells that fold into a central groove on throat. Opercle is with a short spine. It has 2 well-separated dorsal fins, VIII (first spine very short), + I, 8; pectoral rays 15-17; a forked tail; scales large, slightly rough, 34-39 on lateral line; 6 rows of scales between the dorsal fins. Max length is 44,8 cm, common length is 28 cm.

Distribution

The yellow goatfish can be found on reefs in the tropical waters in the Atlantic around the United States, in the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean Sea, and around Cape Verde.

Habits

Yellow goatfish are benthic feeders, using a pair of long chemosensory barbels ("whiskers") protruding from their chins to rifle through the sediments in search of a meal. They usually feed on smaller fish, hunting in a school during the day, and alone at night. Yellow goatfish can live solitary or in similar-sized groups, sometimes switching between groups. When hunting in groups, each goatfish can be either a chaser, directly attacking prey or as a blocker, surrounding prey hiding in coral.