Common Name: Blacksaddle Goatfish

Distribution: Abundant in the Solitary Islands Marine Park. Distributed throughout the Western Pacific region: from Western Australia to Japan, New Caledonia and northern New Zealand, recently reported from Tonga. In Australia recorded from south western Western Australia across the tropical north to the Great Barrier Reef in Queensland, south to eastern Victoria, and including Lord Howe Island. More common in the southern part of its range.

Ecological Notes: Frequents coastal islands and reefs, juveniles often in small schools in estuaries, adults often solitary but may form large schools. Depth to 80 m.

Additional Notes: Colour may vary from pale to dark reddish pink, has prominent large black spot on tail base, preceded by white patch and two broad dark stripes from snout which coalesce at rear of body. Feeds on benthic invertebrates. Grows to 50 cm

References: R. Stuart-Smith, G. Edgar, A. Green, I. Shaw, Tropical Marine Fishes of Australia. Reed New Holland Publishers, 2015. p.190.

Atlas of Living Australia website at https://bie.ala.org.au/search?q=parupeneus+spilurus. Accessed 27/06/18.

FishBase. Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2018. World Wide Web electronic publication. https://fishbase.ca/summary/parupeneus-spilurus.html. Accessed 27/06/18.