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Mulliformes (Goatfishes) >
Mullidae (Goatfishes)
Etymology: Parupeneus: Latin, parum, parvum = small + Peneus, the name of a river; nansen: Named for the research vessel Dr. Fridtjof Nansen; noun in apposition.
Eponymy: The species is named after RV ‘Dr Fridtjof Nansen’, the research vessel from which the holotype was taken, though the binomial is also intended “…to honour the famous Norwegian explorer and scientist for whom the vessel was named.” (See entry above) (Ref. 128868), visit book page.
More on authors: Randall & Heemstra.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; reef-associated; depth range 36 - 51 m (Ref. 82838). Tropical
Western Indian Ocean: Mozambique and probably Somalia.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 13.9 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 82838); 11.4 cm SL (female)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Dorsal spines (total): 8; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9; Anal soft rays: 7; Vertebrae: 24. This species is distinguished by the following characters: 15 or 16 pectoral-fin rays; 6 or 7 + 21-23 gill rakers; moderately elongate body, depth 3.6-3.85 in SL; head length 2.85-2.95 in SL; interorbital space flat medially; snout length 1.9-2.05 in HL; interorbital space flat medially; maxilla symmetrically rounded posteriorly; depth of maxilla 5.05-5.3 in HL; barbel length 1.35-1.45 in HL; longest dorsal spine 1.85-2.0 in HL; pectoral fins 1.35-1.4 in HL; pelvic fins 1.5-1.6 in HL. Color in alcohol pale tan, scale edges a little darker; a faint orangish brown stripe following lateral line; no dark spot on eighth lateral-line scale; fins are translucent pale yellowish; when fresh light yellowish grey dorsally, the scale edges narrowly red, grading to silvery grey below, the red edges of scales progressively fainter ventrally; head broadly red dorsally, grading to silvery white on cheek and operculum; white barbels; three large deep pink to red spots on caudal fin, one in each lobe and one at midbase of fin (Ref. 82838).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Randall, J.E. and E. Heemstra, 2009. Three new goatfishes of the genus Parupeneus from the Western Indian Ocean, with resurrection of P. seychellensis. Smithiana Bulletin 10:37-50. (Ref. 82838)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
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Estimates based on models
Preferred temperature (Ref.
123201): 25.3 - 27.6, mean 26.1 °C (based on 9 cells).
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.01175 (0.00543 - 0.02542), b=3.10 (2.93 - 3.27), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this Genus-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.4 ±0.4 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Resilience (Ref.
120179): High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (10 of 100).