Cinnabar Goatfish

Diagnosis: Pectoral rays 16 (rarely 15 or 17). Gill rakers 6-7 + 29-23 (total 26-30). Body depth 2.95-3.55 in SL; head length (HL) 2.9-3.25 in SL; snout length 1.75-2.1 in HL; barbel length 1.15-1.35 in HL; posterior end of maxilla evenly convex; longest dorsal spine 1.45-1.75 in HL; penultimate dorsal ray 1.05-1.25 in length of last dorsal ray; pectoral-fin length 1.25-1.4 in HL; pelvic-fin length 1.4-1.6 in HL. Body brownish yellow to light red (deeper-dwelling fish more red), the edges of the scales darker, shading to silvery white ventrally; adults with a small reddish brown spot on upper side of body just below seventh and eighth lateral-line scales; an indistinct narrow yellow stripe often visible above the lateral line (more evident in juveniles and subadults); dorsal body scales often with a pale blue or pearly spot; faint iridescent blue lines extending dorsoposteriorly and ventroanteriorly from eye, and often a parallel one on the cheek below eye; second dorsal and anal fins with faint pale blue or pink narrow bands alternating with pale yellow. Although Gloerfelt-Tarp and Kailola (1984: 213) reported that this species (as Parupeneus pleurospilus) has a dark brown peritoneum, the Bishop Museum specimens have a pale peritoneum (Ref. 54393).

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

Occurs singly or in small groups, over muddy, sandy, rubble, or seagrass bottoms of lagoon and seaward reefs, usually below 20 m. A carnivore (Ref. 42247, 41878).

Occurs singly or in small groups, over muddy, sandy, rubble, or seagrass bottoms of lagoon and seaward reefs, usually below 20 m. Flesh is fairly good for human consumption (Ref. 6023, 41878).

fisheries: commercial

廣泛分布於印度-太平洋區， 西起紅海、非洲東部，東到薩摩亞及馬歇爾群島，北起琉球群島，南至羅的豪島。台灣各地皆有，但多分布在南部海域。

棲息深度較深，較不易看見。特殊之覓食行為，故常被水族館做展示用。

體延長而稍側扁，呈長紡錘形。頭稍大；口小；吻長而鈍尖；上頜僅達吻部的中央，後緣垂直彎曲，有別於它種之斜向彎曲；上下頜均具單列齒，齒中大，較鈍，排列較疏；鋤骨與腭骨無齒。具頦鬚一對，末端達眼眶後方。前鰓蓋骨後緣平滑；鰓蓋骨具二短棘；鰓膜與峽部分離；鰓耙數6-7 + 20-23。體被弱櫛鱗，易脫落，腹鰭基部具一腋鱗，眼前無鱗；側線鱗數28-30，上側線管呈樹枝狀。背鰭兩個，彼此分離；胸鰭軟條數15-17(通常為16)；尾鰭叉尾形。體呈黃褐色至淡紅色(棲息深度越深，體色越紅)，鱗片具暗色緣，體背側鱗片中央另具藍點；腹部銀白色；胸鰭上方約在第七至第八側線鱗下方具一紅褐色斑點；眼周圍具藍色斜紋。第二背鰭及臀鰭黃色且具淡藍色至粉紅色紋。

主要棲息於礁區或潟湖區的水域，行群棲性活動。喜歡在礁區外緣的砂地或軟泥地上覓食，以其頤鬚探索砂泥地中的底棲無脊椎動物為食。

Parupeneus heptacanthus, commonly known as cinnabar goatfish, and sold in UK as "Red Mullet", is a marine fish native to the western Pacific and Indian Oceans.

Occurs singly or in small groups, over muddy, sandy, rubbly, or seagrass bottoms of lagoon and seaward reefs to a depth of at least 60 m. Flesh is fairly good for human consumption (Ref. 6023).