Mulloidichthys dentatus
Mexican goatfish | |
---|---|
Montijo, Panama | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
Order: | Perciformes |
Family: | Mullidae |
Genus: | Mulloidichthys |
Species: | M. dentatus
|
Binomial name | |
Mulloidichthys dentatus (Gill, 1862)
| |
Synonyms | |
|
Mulloidichthys dentatus, the Mexican goatfish, is a species of goatfish native to the Pacific Ocean.
Taxonomy
M. dentatus was described in 1862 by Theodore Gill. The prefix "mulloid" in its genus name comes from the Latin mullus, meaning "soft," while "ichthys" is Greek for fish.[2] Meanwhile, the specific epithet "dentatus" is word derived from the Latin, meaning "having teeth."
Description
M. dentatus has a small mouth, which can be protruded. Its
It is similar to
Distribution and habitat
M. dentatus is found in the Central-Eastern Pacific Ocean, from southern California to Peru. Its range includes the Galápagos Islands and is rare north of the Baja California peninsula. It is found at depths between 2–110 m (6.6–360.9 ft).[1][3]
It mainly sticks to the coast and coral reefs, living in the sandy, muddy, and rocky bottoms near the shore. Despite this, its young are more fond of the open ocean. It can be found solitary, although it prefers to be in small schools. At night it can change its color to have red patches.[2]
Conservation
M. dentatus was evaluated by the International Union for Conservation of Nature in May 2007, which placed it as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.[1]
References
- ^ .
- ^ a b "Mulloidichthys dentatus, Mexican goatfish". FishBase. Retrieved 2023-07-06.
- ^ a b c "Shorefishes - The Fishes - Species". Smithsonian. Retrieved 2023-07-06.