Manybar goatfish

The barbels on the lower jaw are likened to an "uncle".

Scientific name	Parupeneus multifasciatus
English name	Manybar goatfish
Japanese name	老翁
Classification	Actinopterygii
Classification details	Perciformes Mullidae
Full length	Over 30cm in maximum.
Distribution	Indo-Pacific. In Japan, it is found mainly on the Pacific coast south of the Kanto region.

Characteristics

The Japanese name comes from a pair of yellow whiskers extending from the lower jaw.

The body is brown to light pink, with prominent black and white horizontal stripes at the rear of the body.

There is a black pattern behind the eye, and the edges of this pattern sometimes appear to shine a bright light blue. I think the eyes are stylish.

Ecology

It lives in the shallow waters of reefs and coral reefs.

It swims with fish such as wrasses, and feeds by pecking at rocks. It seems to be more cautious than other small fish.

Habitat

Miura Peninsula, Arasaki

It can be seen on the reefs of Arasaki.

It swims with wrasses and blue-green damselfish around the rocks where the waves hit them. Although they are not very fast swimmers, they seem to be somewhat wary and will run away quickly.