Whitesaddle Goatfish

Diagnosis: Pectoral rays 15 (rarely 14 or 16). Gill rakers 6-7 + 24-27 (total 30-34). Body depth 2.85-3.25 in SL; head length (HL) 2.85-3.1 in SL; snout length 1.85-2.2 in HL; barbels short, 1.65-1.95 in HL; longest dorsal spine 1.55-1.85 in HL; last dorsal ray slightly longer than penultimate ray; posterior margin of each caudal lobe convex; pectoral-fin length 1.3-1.5 in HL; pelvic-fin length 1.2-1.4 in HL. Body red to reddish brown dorsally, light red ventrally, with a white saddle-like spot on caudal peduncle flanked anteriorly and posteriorly by a dusky spot, the posterior one darkest; a reddish brown band from front of snout through eye and along body to above lateral line, fading and broadening below second dorsal fin, dark band behind eye and anteriorly on body bordered by a white band; fins mainly red; barbels white (Ref. 54393).

Dorsal spines (total): 8; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9; Analsoft rays: 7; Vertebrae: 24

Reported food habits of 198 specimens with crabs as the most important prey (in 81% of the fish), followed by alpheid shrimps (42.6%), isopods (39.9%), foraminifera (37.1%), gammarid amphipods (27.7%), stomatopods (21.0%), Stenopus hispidus (18.2%), small gastropods (17.6%), copepods (14.2%), crab megalops (14.2%), ostracods (12.8%), and fish remains (11.5%) (Ref. 54393).

Inhabits lagoon and seaward reefs; in small groups under ledges or among corals by day, dispersing at night to feed among rocks and corals on benthic crustaceans (Ref. 9710). It is a nocturnal predator that feeds mostly on benthic crustaceans (Ref. 13550). Spawning appears to be year-round with the peak from December to July; females may spawn more than once a year (Ref. 54393).