Upeneus parvus Poey, 1852
Dwarf goatfish
Upeneus parvus
photo by Cox, C.D.

Family:  Mullidae (Goatfishes)
Max. size:  30 cm TL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 180.0 g
Environment:  demersal; marine; depth range 18 - 100 m
Distribution:  Western Atlantic: North Carolina, USA and Puerto Rico to Santa Catarina, Brazil (Ref. 57756). Absent in the Bahamas, Bermuda, and the western Caribbean (Ref. 26938).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 8-8; Dorsal soft rays (total): 8-8; Anal spines: 2-2; Anal soft rays: 6-6. Oblique dark bars across both lobes of caudal fin (Ref. 26938).
Biology:  Found over mud and sand bottoms (Ref. 3792). Juveniles up to 8 cm are pelagic (Ref. 9626). Feeds mainly on benthic invertebrates (Ref. 3792). Flesh considered good quality; marketed fresh and frozen (Ref. 3792). In southwestern Brazil found in 112 m depth (Ref. 47377).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 29 January 2013 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


Source and more info: www.fishbase.org. For personal, classroom, and other internal use only. Not for publication.