Home · Mullidae · Rosy goatfish
Rosy goatfish (Parupeneus rubescens) — Mullidae

Rosy goatfish

Parupeneus rubescens
Family: Mullidae

The Rosy goatfish (Parupeneus rubescens) is a saltwater fish of the family Mullidae that grows up to 43 cm.

Length
43 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
0–200.0 m
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Range
Asia: Australia, Taiwan/Ch Taipei, Indonesia, Iran, Israel, Jordan and others
Edibility
Commonly eaten

Want the complete picture on the Rosy goatfish?

Get the app

Description

The Rosy goatfish is a goatfish (Mullidae) from the Indo-West Pacific. The species grows to about 43 cm and has an elongate body with a pair of long barbels under the chin. The reddish body bears a black saddle blotch just before the tail. With the barbels it probes sand and reef bottoms for worms, crustaceans and molluscs. It is a food fish. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Rosy goatfish?

The Rosy goatfish has a torpedo-shaped body and is mainly red-orange.

Where does the Rosy goatfish live?

The Rosy goatfish lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground. Asia: Australia, Taiwan/Ch Taipei, Indonesia, Iran, Israel, Jordan and others

How big does the Rosy goatfish get?

The Rosy goatfish grows to a maximum of about 43 cm. On average the species is around 23 cm.

Is the Rosy goatfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Rosy goatfish is harmless to humans. This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status.

Is the Rosy goatfish edible?

Yes, the Rosy goatfish is commonly eaten.

More photos

Rosy goatfish (Parupeneus rubescens) — Mullidae — 2
Wikimedia Commons — Hugues Evano (IFREMER, Délégation océan Indien (DOI), Département Ressources Biologiques et Environnement (RBE), F-97420 Le Port, France) (CC BY 4.0)
Rosy goatfish (Parupeneus rubescens) — Mullidae — 3
SAIAB (CC BY 4.0) via GBIF — SAIAB
Rosy goatfish (Parupeneus rubescens) — Mullidae — 4
Wikimedia Commons — (c) Ewout Knoester, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Rosy goatfish (Parupeneus rubescens) — Mullidae — 5
iNaturalist ((c) Georgina Jones, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA))
Fin

Want the complete picture on the Rosy goatfish?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Rosy goatfish is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Get the app →

All data

Identification

English name
Rosy goatfish sourced
Scientific name
Parupeneus rubescens
Family
Mullidae
Other names
Rosy goatfish; Twospot goatfish; Blacksaddle goatfish verified

Appearance

Size class
Large verified
Max length (cm)
43.0 verified
Average length (cm)
23.0 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Red / orange sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Barbels
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Max depth (m)
200.0 verified
Natural range
Asia: Australia, Taiwan/Ch Taipei, Indonesia, Iran, Israel, Jordan and others sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known. inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten inferred
Fishing method
Fishing with natural bait (fish, shrimp, worm) or lures close to reef and rock structures. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified
First aid
This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status. verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Parupeneus

More from the family Mullidae

Fin

Want the complete picture on the Rosy goatfish?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Rosy goatfish is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Get the app →
Is this the Rosy goatfish? Get the app