Upeneus indicus Uiblein & Heemstra, 2010
Tall-fin goatfish
Upeneus indicus
photo by Randall, J.E.

Family:  Mullidae (Goatfishes)
Max. size:  14 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; marine
Distribution:  Western Indian Ocean: known only from western India.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 8-8; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9-9. This species is distinguished by the following characters: D VIII,9; pectoral fins 15-16; gill rakers 9 + 20-22 = 29-31; lateral line scales 36; body depth at first dorsal-fin origin 29-31% SL and at anal-fin origin 26-27% SL; caudal-peduncle depth 11% SL; maximum head depth 25% SL; head depth through eye 18-19% SL; head length 30-31%SL; orbit length 7.0-7.1% SL; upper jaw length 12% SL; barbel length 19-20% SL; caudal-fin length 27-28% SL; anal-fin height 13-14% SL; pelvic-fin length 19% SL; pectoral-fin length 23-24% SL; first dorsal-fin height 23-24% SL; second dorsal-fin height 15-26% SL; 8-10 total bars on caudal fin, 4-6 pale brown bars on upper caudal-fin lobe, 4 of same color on lower lobe with the 3 proximal bars on upper lobe slightly curved with caudal-fin bars wider than pale interspaces between bars; in preserved specimens, bars faintly retained. Fresh fish with 3 pale brown lateral body stripes, one mid-lateral stripe reaching from behind head to caudal-fin base, and another one below, starting behind from behind pectoral-fin base and a third short stripe just above lateral line below dorsal fins; length of dark first dorsal-fin tip clearly smaller than orbit; head and body silvery rose laterally, dorsally dark reddish, and belly silvery, white in fresh fish; body uniformly brown in preserved (Ref. 82903).
Biology: 
IUCN Red List Status: Data deficient (DD); Date assessed: 13 August 2019 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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