goatfish

goatfish
/goht"fish'/, n., pl. goatfishes, (esp. collectively) goatfish.
any tropical and subtropical marine fish of the family Mullidae, having a pair of long barbels below the mouth. Also called red mullet.
[1630-40; GOAT + FISH]

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▪ fish
also called  surmullet,  

      any of more than 60 species of elongated marine fishes of the family Mullidae (order Perciformes).

      Goatfishes are characterized by two well-separated dorsal fins and by a pair of long, sensory chin barbels. The barbels are used to find the small, bottom-living invertebrates on which the fishes feed; when not in use, the barbels are held in a groove on the throat. Inhabitants of shallow water, goatfishes are found in warm and tropical regions, along reefs or over mud or sand. They are often brightly coloured, in shades of red and yellow; some are able to change their colours.

      The largest goatfishes are about 60 cm (2 feet) long, but most are much smaller. Many species are edible and valued as food. One of the best known of these is the red surmullet, or red mullet (Mullus barbatus), of the Mediterranean, which was one of the most highly prized food fishes of the ancient Romans. Very similar is another European species, M. surmuletus.

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • goatfish — [gōt′fish΄] n. pl. goatfish or goatfishes (see FISH) any of a percoid family (Mullidae) of edible, tropical reef fishes with large scales, two barbels on the lower jaw, and bright coloration …   English World dictionary

  • Goatfish — Goat fish , n. (Zo[ o]l.) A fish of the genus {Upeneus}, inhabiting the Gulf of Mexico. It is allied to the surmullet. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Goatfish — Goatfishes Yellowfin goatfish Mulloidichthys vanicolensis Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia …   Wikipedia

  • goatfish — noun brightly colored tropical fishes with chin barbels • Syn: ↑red mullet, ↑surmullet, ↑Mullus surmuletus • Hypernyms: ↑mullet • Hyponyms: ↑red goatfish, ↑Mullus auratus, ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

  • goatfish — /ˈgoʊtfɪʃ/ (say gohtfish) noun (plural goatfish or goatfishes) any fish of the tropical and subtropical marine family Mullidae, having a pair of long barbels below the mouth, and including species highly esteemed as a delicacy by the ancient… …  

  • goatfish — mauritaninė barzdotė statusas T sritis zoologija | vardynas taksono rangas rūšis atitikmenys: lot. Pseudopeneus prayensis angl. goatfish rus. барабуля козёл; мавританская салмонета ryšiai: platesnis terminas – koralinės barzdotės …   Žuvų pavadinimų žodynas

  • goatfish — noun Date: circa 1639 any of a family (Mullidae) of medium sized often brightly colored bony fishes having two long barbels under the chin, and elongate body, and two widely separated dorsal fins compare red mullet …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • goatfish — 1) members of the family Mullidae 2) the combined symbols of Enki (q.v.), the Sumerian god of water, later appearing as Capricorn, which became one of the signs of the zodiac. See also Ea …   Dictionary of ichthyology

  • goatfish — noun Any of many brightly coloured fishes, of the family Mullidae, having two barbels on the chin …   Wiktionary

  • goatfish — n. (Zoology) red or golden fish with whiskers below the mouth (also called red mullet, surmullet) …   English contemporary dictionary

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