Bandedtail Goatfish

This species is distinguished by the following characters: D VIII,9; pectoral fins 15-16; gill rakers 7-8 + 19-21 = 27-29; lateral line scales 36-38; body depth at first dorsal fin origin 25-29% SL and at anal-fin origin 21-24% SL; caudal-peduncle depth 9.9-12% SL; maximum head depth 21-26% SL; head depth through eye 18-20% SL; head length 30-31%SL; orbit length 7.0-8.7% SL; upper jaw length 11-13% SL; barbel length 17-21% SL; caudal-fin length 26-30% SL; anal-fin height 15-16% SL; pelvic-fin length 18-21% SL; pectoral-fin length 22-24% SL; first dorsal-fin height 22-25% SL; second dorsal-fin height 14-16% SL; 7-9 total bars on caudal fin, 4-5 brown or dark brown bars on upper caudal-fin lobe, 3 (rarely 4) bars on lower lobe, increasing distally in width with the widest distal-most bar black or dark brown, while the other bars are pale brown or brown; width of largest lower caudal-fin lobe bar and/or pale interspace between distal-most bars equal to or larger than orbit; tip of lower fin lobe pale (bars on both caudal-fin lobes retained on preserved fish); tip of first dorsal-fin dark, the vertical length of the pigmented area similar in size to width of widest lower caudal-fin lobe bar; 2 yellow or pale brown mid-lateral body stripes, one from eye to caudal-fin base, where it joins the proximal upper caudal-fin lobe bar, and the other stripe below from pectoral-fin base to caudal peduncle and continued by proximal-most lower caudal fin lobe bar; 2 dorsolateral brown or pale brown stripes, with the lower one distinct and well-separated from pale body surface, extending from operculum to behind second dorsal fin, the upper one indistinct or hidden and much shorter, beginning below first dorsal-fin origin and bordered dorsally by a horizontal series of pale spots (lateral body stripes not retained on preserved fish); barbels white; white to silvery body. Dark reddish-brown dorsally, white belly, faint yellowish patches along pelvic and anal-fin bases (body pale brown in preserved fish, slightly darker above lateral line) (Ref. 83903).

Dorsal spines (total): 8; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9; Analspines: 1; Analsoft rays: 7

Euryhaline (Ref. 12743). Inhabits sandy lagoons and sheltered coastal waters. Also found over muddy bottoms (Ref. 5213). Often in groups (Ref. 9710). In the north-east coast of India, the male to female ratio was 1:1.5 in most months (Ref. 28761). Feeds primarily on small crustaceans.

Euryhaline (Ref. 12743). Inhabits sandy lagoons and sheltered coastal waters. Also found over muddy bottoms (Ref. 5213). Benthopelagic (Ref. 58302). Often in groups (Ref. 9710). In the north-east coast of India, the male to female ratio was 1:1.5 in most months (Ref. 28761). Feeds primarily on small crustaceans. Marketed fresh (Ref. 5284).

fisheries: commercial; aquarium: commercial

廣泛分布於印度-太平洋區， 西起紅海及非洲東岸，東到夏威夷、馬貴斯及社會群島，北起琉球群島，南至新加勒多尼亞。台灣南部及西部海域有產。

漁期全年皆有，可利用底拖網、流刺網或延繩釣等漁法採獲，屬中型食用魚，適宜用煎炸或煮味噌湯皆不錯。特殊之覓食行為，故常被水族館做展示用。

體延長而稍側扁，呈長橢圓形。頭中大；口小，下位；吻圓鈍；上下頜齒細小，鋤骨與腭骨具齒，均多形成絨毛狀齒帶；上頜延長至眼下方約1/3處。頦部縫合處具一對長鬚。前鰓蓋骨後緣平滑；鰓蓋骨後緣具一短棘；鰓蓋膜與峽部分離；鰓耙數7-9 + 18-21。體被中大櫛鱗，易脫落；側線完全，側線鱗數34-36，側線鱗上之側線管分枝。背鰭兩個，彼此分離；胸鰭軟條數15-17(通常為16)；尾鰭叉尾形。體背銀灰色，體側銀白色，有時帶淡紅色光澤，並有4-5條金黃色的縱帶，腹部通常帶黃色。第一背鰭末端有一黑色斑塊，二個背鰭的鰭膜上亦有黃色的縱帶，尾鰭上葉有4-5條及下葉有3條黑色或褐色的斜紋。

主要棲息於砂泥底質的潟湖或礁砂混合區海域，尤其是水質稍為混濁的水域較為常見。喜歡成群活動，在較深的水域亦有分布。以底棲的軟體動物及甲殼類為食。

Inhabits sandy lagoons and sheltered coastal waters in temperatures between 26-29°C. Also found over muddy bottoms (Ref. 5213). Feeds primarily on small crustaceans. Marketed fresh (Ref. 5284).