Family : Mullidae (Goatfishes)
Order : Perciformes  (perch-likes)
Class : Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
Fishbase Name : Dash-and-dot goatfish
Fish Name : Parupeneus barberinus
Max size : 60.0 cm TL (male/unsexed; Ref. 9710)
Environment : reef-associated ; depth range - 100 m
Climate : tropical; 30°N - 23°S
Global Importance : fisheries: commercial; aquarium: commercial
Resilience: Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)Distribution : Indo-Pacific: Gulf of Aden and Oman, south on the east coast of Africa to Mossel Bay, South Africa, east to the islands of Micronesia, Line Islands, Marquesas Islands, and Tuamotu Archipelago; and from southern Japan to Australia and New Caledonia.
Diagnosis : Dorsal spines (total): 8-8; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9-9; Anal spines: 1-1; Anal soft rays: 7-7.
Biology : One of the most abundant species of Parupeneus (Ref. 37816). Inhabits large sand patches as well as sand and rubble areas of reef flats, and lagoon and seaward reefs to a depth of about 100 m. Forages on sand-dwelling invertebrates like polychaete worms and crustaceans. Feeding is diurnal; from 19 adult specimens for food-habit study, the prey in order by volume in the stomachs: crabs (portunid, anomuran, xanthid, and raninid), worms (mainly polychaetes but also sipunculids and unidentified), small bivalve molluscs, brachiopods, shrimps, small gastropods, isopods, amphipods, foraminifera, and a small unidentified eel (Ref. 54393). Individuals from Palau and eastern Carolines often have a yellow band immediately above the broad black band extending behind the eye (Ref. 37816). Adults solitary or in small groups. Juveniles usually in small groups, often mixed with other species in sparse seagrass habitats (Ref. 48636)
Threatened : Dangerous:  
Dangerous : harmless
Coordinator : Randall, John E.
Main Ref : Randall, J.E.. 2004. (Ref. 54393)

India country information
Common Names : മണക്കം, മണക്കം , Kaluoh, Manakkam
Status : native
Salinity : marine
Uses : no uses