Heemstra Goatfish

This species is distinguished by the following characters: D VIII + 9; pectoral-fin rays 12-14; gill rakers 4-8 + 14-18 = 19-24; lateral-line scales 28-30; in %SL: body depth at first dorsal-fin origin 22-26; body depth at anal-fin origin 19-23; caudal-peduncle depth 9.5-11; caudal-peduncle width 2.9-4.6; maximum head depth 19-22; head depth through eye 14-17; head length 27-31; postorbital length 10-13; orbit length 6.3-8.3; upper jaw length 9.8-13; barbel length 15-20; caudal pedunclelength 21-23; caudal-fin length 27-30; anal-fin height 16-19; pelvic-fin length 20-22; pectoral-fin length 19-21; pectoral-fin width 3.7-4.9; first dorsal-fin height 19-23; second dorsal-fin height 17-18; postorbital length 1.4-1.8 times in anal-fin height; colour of all fins with red, brown or blackstripes, bars or blotches; caudal fin with 9-12 oblique bars, 4-6 bars on upper caudal-fin lobeand 5-6 bars on lower caudal-fin lobe; first dorsal fin possess a large blotch around tip; one pale- or dark brown mid-lateral body stripe from tip of snout through eye to caudal base; body and head ground colour white or beige, slightly darker above lateral line, with irregular red, brown or black spots and/or blotches; fresh specimens with yellow or pale brown barbels; fin and body pigmentation mostly retained in preserved fish (Ref. 95469).

Dorsal spines (total): 8; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9; Analspines: 1; Analsoft rays: 6

Found over sand and mud bottoms near coral reefs (Ref. 30573); generally solitary (Ref. 5213). An invertebrate feeder (Ref. 41878).