Moluccan barbel
| Moluccan barbel | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Moluccan barbel ( Upeneus moluccensis ) |
||||||||||||
| Systematics | ||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||
| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Upeneus moluccensis | ||||||||||||
| ( Bleeker , 1855) |
The Moluccan barb ( Upeneus moluccensis ) is a marine fish from the family of the red mullet that occurs in the Red Sea and in the tropical Indo-Pacific north to Japan and east to New Caledonia . The species immigrated into the Mediterranean through the Suez Canal ( Lesseps Migration ) and is now established in the eastern Mediterranean.
features
Moluccan barbs grow to a maximum of 22 centimeters, but usually stay at 18 centimeters. They are relatively elongated. The body height is 24 to 26% of the standard length at the beginning of the first dorsal fin and 21 to 23% of the standard length at the anus .
- Fin formula : dorsal VIII / 9, anal I / 7, pectoral 14-17.
- Scale formula : SL 33–35.
- Gill rake 7–8 + 18–20 (26–27 in total). OK
Moluccan barbs have a rosy-silvery basic color, the back above the sideline is light brown. A broad, yellow to gold longitudinal band runs from the eye to the upper tail stalk. The barbels are white. The tip of the first dorsal fin is dark. Unmistakable characteristics of the species are 6 to 8 thin red stripes on the upper lobe of the deeply forked caudal fin. There is a red band at the rear edge of the unstriped lower caudal fin lobe.
Way of life
The Moluccan barbel is found near the coast over sandy and muddy bottoms, often near coral reefs . Young fish form small groups, adults occur individually, in pairs or in small groups. The fish usually stay at depths of 10 to 120 meters. They are fast swimmers who usually only stop briefly to eat. This consists of small crustaceans, bristle worms and, in larger specimens, also of fish . Compared to other red mullets, they eat larger prey. Moluccan barbel spawn in the Mediterranean from late June to late October. Their eggs and the relatively small larvae are pelagic .
literature
- Hans A. Baensch / Robert A. Patzner: Mergus Sea Water Atlas Volume 7 Perciformes (perch-like) , Mergus-Verlag, Melle, 1998, ISBN 3-88244-107-0
- Uiblein, F. and PC Heemstra, 2010. A taxonomic review of the Western Indian Ocean goatfishes of the genus Upeneus (Family Mullidae), with descriptions of four new species . Smithiana 11: 35-71.
Web links
- Moluccan barbel on Fishbase.org (English)
- Golden banded goat-fish ( Upeneus moluccensis ) at Marine Species Identification Portal