DAY 16 – MARCH FOCUS ON NORFOLK ISLAND’S REEF

If you go for a snorkel on Norfolk Island’s reef, one family of fish that you are bound to see are members of the goatfish family. We have several different species here, but one thing they all have in common is two barbels (goatees) – chemosensory feelers – under their chins (Wikipedia). They use these to probe the sand and small crevices in the reef looking for morsels of food, such as shrimps and other crustaceans, and molluscs. When these aren’t in use, they tuck them away under their chin.

Goatfish are common across tropical and subtropical waters. They can usually be found in schools floating in the water column, or actively seeking food on the sandy bottom of the lagoon.

The largest species of goatfish is the dot-and-dash goatfish, which can grow up to 60 cm in length. The only one of these that I have seen was in Cemetery Bay and was very much a juvenile as you can see from its photo.

If you click on each image to enlarge, you will see that all these goatfish are surprisingly brightly coloured, particularly the blacksaddle goatfish, and the cardinal or diamond-scaled goatfish.

Blacksaddle Goatfish, Parupeneus spilurus

Cardinal goatfish, Parupeneus ciliatus

Dot-and-dash goatfish, Parupeneus barberinus

Francis' goatfish, Upeneus francisi

Goldstripe goatfish, Mulloidichthys vanicolensis

Yellowstripe goatfish, Mulloidichthys flavolineatus