Yellowfin Goatfish

Mulloidichthys vanicolensis is a species of goatfish native to the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean.

Description

M. vanicolensis can reach a maximum length of 38 cm (15 in). The back is red-orange, while the flanks and the belly are whitish and the fins are yellow. The sides show a yellow longitudinal band.

The similar Yellowstripe Goatfish, Mulloidichthys flavolineatus, usually has a dark blotch on the mid-lateral stripe (although the blotch is not always present).

Distribution

These fish are widespread in the Indo-Pacific, from the Red Sea to Hawaii and the Tuamotus, north to Japan and to Lord Howe Island to the south.

Habitat

The yellowfin goatfish is a reef-associated species. It usually can be found in lagoons and seaward reefs at depths of 1–113 m (3.3–370.7 ft). This occasionally schooling species inhabits sandy bottoms of reef flats, lagoons, coastal and seaward reefs. In large inactive aggregations by day, dispersing to sand flats to feed at night. Sometimes mixes with blue-striped snapper Lutjanus kasmira and shows blue stripes. This species feeds on crustaceans or worms at night.