Bar Tailed Goatfish

This species is distinguished by the following characters: D VII + 9; pectoral fins 13-15; gill rakers 6-8 + 18-21 = 24-28. Adult measurements as %SL: body depth at first dorsal-fin origin 21-25 and at anus 18-22; caudal-peduncle depth 8.0-11; maximum head depth 18-21 and through eye 15-17; head length 27-31; orbit length 6.1-8.2; upper jaw length 9.7-12; barbel length 18-23; caudal-fin length 25-29; anal-fin height 15-19; pelvic-fin length 19-23; pectoral-fin length 21-25; first dorsal-fin height 20-24 and second dorsal-fin height 15-19. Colouration: upper caudal-fin lobe in fresh fish with 3-4 red oblique bars while lower caudal-fin lobe almost entirely covered by a broad red stripe that becomes darker distally and is partially surrounded by a dark grey line and by a contrasting white fin margin and white lobe tip exteriorly; there are only weak indications of upper caudal fin lobe bars in preserved specimens with a dark pigmented zone remaining distally at the lower lobe; barbels are yellow; without lateral body stripes; head and body white or silvery ventrally and laterally, sometimes covered with red blotches, and uniformly red dorsally of lateral line; preserved fish are pale brown or brown (Ref. 98481).Description: Differs from other Upeneus with 7-spined dorsal fin in generally having14 pectoral fin rays; 7 + 18 gill rakers; 29 - 30 + 2 lateral line scales; teeth on ectopterygoid present; and, dark brown or black peritoneum (Ref. 43139).

Dorsal spines (total): 7

Found on the continental shelf (Ref. 75154). Widespread in sandy regions (Ref. 9137).

Widespread in sandy regions (Ref. 9137). Minimum depth from Ref. 098481.

fisheries: minor commercial; price category: high; price reliability: questionable: based on ex-vessel price for species in this genus

分布於西太平洋區，由日本至香港。台灣分布於北部、東北部、西部、澎湖及東部海域等有產。

在台灣及各離島礁區，都可發現它們，可利用流刺網、延繩釣或底拖網等漁法捕獲。魚肉細緻，油炸、紅燒、煮味噌湯，味道皆可口。釣場分布主要以台灣北部、南部及澎湖、蘭嶼一帶水域為主，終年都可垂釣。特殊之覓食行為，故常被水族館做展示用。

體延長而稍側扁，呈長橢圓形。頭中大；口小，下位；吻圓鈍；上下頜齒細小，鋤骨與腭骨具齒，均多形成絨毛狀齒帶；上頜延長至眼下方約1/3處。頦部縫合處具一對長鬚。前鰓蓋骨後緣平滑；鰓蓋骨後緣具一短棘；鰓蓋膜與峽部分離；鰓耙數7-9 + 18-22。體被中大櫛鱗，易脫落；側線完全，側線鱗數31-33，側線鱗上之側線管分枝。背鰭兩個，彼此分離；胸鰭軟條數15-18(15及18較少)；尾鰭叉尾形。體上半部淺紅色，下半部白色，頭上半部與尾鰭下半部較紅；背鰭具2-3條水平紅色帶；尾鰭上半葉具3條寬紅色帶；胸鰭與腹鰭淺紅色，臀鰭色較淡。以前所記載之條紋緋鯉(/Upeneus bensasi/)為本種之同種異名。

廣泛分布於沿岸及近海沙泥底質，經常單獨或成小群的在砂泥底質的棲地，翻動底沙泥，尋找底棲的軟體動物及甲殼類。