Genus: Upeneus, Dwarf Goatfish, Goatfishes
D VII
mouth reaches under eye
both jaws & roof mouth: teeth
both jaws & roof mouth: teeth
operculum: no spine
UPENEUS
GOATFISHES
Elongate, cylindrical body; head blunt and profile strongly convex; space between eyes narrow and concave; mouth reaches under front edge of eye; teeth on both jaws and roof of mouth; chin with a pair of large, long barbells that fold into a central groove on throat; no spine on operculum; first dorsal with VII spines; scales large, slightly rough, tail fin with oblique black stripes.
A pantropical genus (except for the eastern Pacific) with 24 species; 1 W Atlantic species in the Greater Caribbean.
