| Mullus auratus | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Perciformes |
| Family: | Mullidae |
| Genus: | Mullus |
| Species: | M. auratus |
| Binomial name | |
| Mullus auratus | |
Mullus auratus, the red goatfish or northern goatfish, is a species of ray-finned fish, a goatfish from the family Mullidae which is native to the western Atlantic Ocean.
Mullus auratus has a moderately elongated, cylindrical body with a steep forehead with its upper jaw extending as far as the eye. It has no teeth in the upper jaw but does have teeth in its palate. It has two long barbels on its chin which fold into a groove on the throat. It is a reddish colour on the back and whitish on the belly, there is a reddish stripe along the flank which runs from the snout to the caudal peduncle with between 2 and 5 paler yellowish stripes visible too. The first dorsal fin has an orange stripe at its base and a wider and darker reddish brown stripe at its tip. The second dorsal fin has a number of reddish stripes. The lobes of the tail are marked with indistinct crossbars. [2] There are a total of 9 spines in the dorsal fins and 8 soft rays while the anal fin has 2 spines and 6 soft rays. The maximum recorded total length for females is 27 centimetres (11 in) and 25 centimetres (9.8 in) for males. [3]
Mullus auratus occurs in the western Atlantic Ocean from Nova Scotia south to Guyana, it also occurs around Bermuda. However, it is rare north of Florida and is absent from the Bahamas. [3]
Mullus auratus is a demersal species which is found over coastal mud or silty sand bottoms where it uses its barbels to find benthic invertebrates. This species is commoner in offshore oceanic, continental shelf waters than it is in coastal habitats. It is normally found between 10 and 60 metres (33 and 197 ft) over a sand-mud substrate. The larvae and juveniles are associated with Sargassum weed. [1]
Mullus auratus is of minor commercial importance and in the Gulf of Mexico it is subjected to a low level of fishing pressure. Its flesh is considered to be of excellent quality and is marketed fresh. [1]
The goatfishes are perciform fish of the family Mullidae. The family is also sometimes referred to as the red mullets, which also refers more narrowly to the genus Mullus.
Aulostomus maculatus, the West Atlantic trumpetfish, is a long-bodied fish with an upturned mouth. It often swims vertically while trying to blend with vertical coral, such as sea rods, sea pens, and pipe sponges.
The graysby is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a grouper from the subfamily Epinephelinae which is in the family Serranidae which also includes the anthias and sea basses. It is found in the western Atlantic. It is associated with reefs and is a quarry species for commercial and recreational fisheries.
Upeneichthys lineatus, also known as the blue-striped mullet, blue-lined goatfish. blue-striped goatfish, blue-spotted goatfish and blue striped red mullet, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a goatfish from the family Mullidae. It is native to the Pacific coast of Australia. It occurs in sheltered areas over rocky and sandy substrates and can be found 5 to 100 metres, though rarer below 40 metres (130 ft). This species can reach a length of 40 centimetres (16 in) FL. This species is commercially important.
The sand devil or Atlantic angel shark is a species of angelshark, family Squatinidae, native to the northwestern Atlantic Ocean. It occurs off the eastern United States, in the northern Gulf of Mexico, and possibly in parts of the Caribbean Sea. This bottom-dwelling shark is found in shallow inshore waters in summer and fall, and deep offshore waters in winter and spring. The sand devil's flattened body and enlarged pectoral and pelvic fins give it a ray-like appearance. There is a band of enlarged thorns running along the middle of its back. It is gray or brown in color, with scattered small dark spots. This species reaches 1.2–1.5 m (3.9–4.9 ft) in length.
The comber is a species of marine ray-finned fish from the family Serranidae, the sea basses. It is widely distributed in the eastern North and South Atlantic Oceans and into the southwestern Indian Ocean. It is caught for food and fishmeal in some parts of its range.
Mullus barbatus is a species of goatfish found in the Mediterranean Sea, Sea of Marmara, the Black Sea and the eastern North Atlantic Ocean, where its range extends from Scandinavia to Senegal. They are fished, mostly by trawling, with the flesh being well regarded. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed their conservation status as being of "least concern".
Synodontis albolineatus, known as the mustard catfish, or the mustard squeaker, is a species of upside-down catfish native to Gabon and Cameroon, where it occurs in the Ntem and Ivindo rivers. It was first described by French zoologist Jacques Pellegrin in 1924, based upon a holotype discovered in the Djoua River at Madjingo, Gabon. The holotype specimen resides in the Musee National d' Histoire Naturelle de Paris. The specific name "albolineatus" is a composite from the Latin word albus for "white" and the Latin word linea for "line", which refers to the white midlateral stripe of the species.
Synodontis tanganyicae is a species of upside-down catfish endemic to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zambia, and Tanzania, where it is only known from Lake Tanganyika. It was first described by Russian-American ichthyologist Nikolai Andreyevich Borodin in 1936, from specimens collected at Kasaga, in what is now the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The species name tanganyicae comes from the habitat of the species, Lake Tanganyika.
Upeneichthys vlamingii, the blue-spotted goatfish, southern goatfish, black-striped goatfish, blue-striped red mullet, southern red mullet or western red mullet, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a goatfish from the family Mullidae native to the coast of southern Australia.
Cirrhibarbis capensis, the barbelled klipfish, is a species of clinid found in subtropical waters of the Atlantic Ocean around South Africa. This species can reach a maximum length of 36 centimetres (14 in) TL. This species preys primarily on benthic crustaceans, mostly amphipods and isopods. It is currently the only known member of its genus.
Menticirrhus americanus, the southern kingfish, southern kingcroaker, king whiting, Carolina whiting, sea mullet, roundhead, or whiting, is a species of marine fish in the family Sciaenidae. It lives in shallow coastal waters on the western fringes of the Atlantic Ocean.
The slender grouper is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a grouper from the subfamily Epinephelinae which is part of the family Serranidae, which also includes the anthias and sea basses. It is the only species in the genus Anyperodon. It is found in the Indo-Pacific region.
Chaetodon hoefleri, the four-banded butterflyfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a butterflyfish from the family Chaetodontidae. It is native to the tropical eastern Atlantic and has been recorded in the Mediterranean.
Upeneus mascareinsis, the Mascarene goatfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Mullidae, the goatfishes, which is found in the Indian Ocean.
Peristedion greyae, the alligator searobin, alligator armored searobin or prickly armoured sea robin, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Peristediidae, the armoured gurnards or armored sea robins. It is found in the western central Atlantic.
Parupeneus forsskali, common name Red Sea goatfish, is a species of goatfish belonging to the family Mullidae.
Pseudupeneus prayensis, the West African goatfish, is a species of goatfish, a marine ray-finned fish from the family Mullidae. This fish grows to 55 cm maximal length. The species name "prayensis" refers to the city Praia, the capital of Cape Verde, the species was described with a type locality of "Port Praya, Cape Verde Islands".
Diapterus auratus, the Irish mojarra or Irish pompano, is a species of ray-finned fish from the family Gerreidae, the mojarras. Other common names for this species are the broad shad, silver perch and muttonfish. It is found in the warmer waters of the western Atlantic Ocean.
Upeneus pori, Por's goatfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a goatfish from the family Mullidae which is found in western Indian Ocean and the eastern Mediterranean Sea.
