Gold-saddle goatfish
(Parupeneus cyclostomus)
General data
Parupeneus cyclostomus, the gold-saddle goatfish, blue goatfish or yellowsaddle goatfish, is a species of goatfish native to the Indo-Pacific. It is a commercially important species, as well as being sought out as a game fish, though it has been reported as carrying the ciguatera toxin. It can also be found in the aquarium trade.
This fish is usually colored yellow with a bluish sheen to the dorsal part, but with a golden yellow variant.
It can reach 50 cm (20 in) in total length, though most do not exceed 35 cm (14 in).
It occurs solitarily or in groups, in all areas of the coral reefs and detrital bottom area from 1 to 95 m deep. It uses its barbels to probe holes and force out prey.
It is found in the Indo-Pacific from the Red Sea to South Africa, the Hawaiian Islands, and the Ryukyu Islands.
