Species: Pseudupeneus maculatus, Spotted Goatfish

Pseudupeneus maculatus (Bloch, 1793)

Spotted Goatfish

Body elongate, cylindrical; underside of head and body nearly flat; snout pointed, straight, 45 degree angle; eye high on side of head; mouth small, at lower edge of head, protrusible, top jaw not reaching to under front of eye; relatively small villiform or conical teeth; no teeth on roof of mouth; chin with a pair of large, long barbells that fold into a central groove on throat; opercle with a short spine; 2 well-separated dorsal fins, VIII (first spine very short), + I, 8; pectoral rays 13-15; a forked tail; scales large, slightly rough, 27-31 on lateral line; 3 rows of scales between 2 dorsal fins.

Body whitish to pink; edges of scales reddish to yellow-brown, 3 large reddish black spots on body below dorsal fins, several blue lines from mouth to behind eye; lines of blue spots on body scales; fins whitish.

Size: 30 cm.

Habitat: Adults around shallow coral reef areas, young frequent seagrass beds.

Depth: 1-110 m.

New Jersey to Brazil.