Moutham'S Goatfish

This species is distinguished by the following: D VIII + 9 with the first spine being extremely short; A I, 8, spine extremely short; pectoral rays 13; lateral line scales 29; gill rakers 6-7 + 17-19 = 23-26; body depth 4.15-4.4 in SL; barbels up to posterior to rear margin of preopercle, 1.3-1.4 in HL; body light red dorsally, white with pink blotches on the side and ventrally with a yellow stripe following the lateral line to caudal peduncle where it passes just dorsal to line; barbels pale yellow; caudal fin lobes with 3 cross bands, the outer one of lower lobe the darkest and twice as broad as other bands; dark spot absent on outer part of first dorsal fin (Ref. 58005).

Dorsal spines (total): 8; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9; Analspines: 1; Analsoft rays: 8; Vertebrae: 24

General description of the bank where the specimens were taken, is shallow sand on eroded flat rock with scattered patches of green algae (Ref. 58005).