Fish Identification Photos: Bigscale Goatfish, Pseudupeneus grandisquamis: The Bigscale Goatfish is a very easy fish to identify due to its long thick barbells, red coloration, and the unique pearly striping patterns along its sides (see picture below). The Bigscale Goatfish has a brownish red back and is redish pink on the sides gradating to white ventrally.

There is a black blotch on the lateral line below the rear portion of the first dorsal fin. There are a series of pearly white spots on the head which extend into streaks along the sides. The Bigscale Goatfish has a deep body approximately 32 percent of length.

The Bigscale Goatfish reaches a maximum length of 12 inches and is found over sandy or muddy bottoms within the first 200 feet of the water column.

The Bigscale Goatfish cannot be confused with any other species. However, it is often called “Red” Goatfish; the Red Goatfish, Chivo Colorado, Mullus auratus, is an Atlantic Ocean only species. The Bigscale Goatfish is found in all Mexican waters.

The goatfishes, also known as surmullets, are members of the Mullidae Family which are known in Mexico as Chivos. They are characterized by a pair of long slender barbells on the chin. The Biscale Goatfish's barbells are usually folded along the jaw when swimming, but extend out at right angles when it is searching for food buried in the sand. There are approximately 55 goatfish species known globally but only three in Mexican waters. They are seen in large schools over the reefs during the day, frequenting cleaning stations serviced by butterflyfish, whereby they hover vertically with head down and barbells extended and reportedly change to a darker color to make the parasites more obvious to the butterflyfish. They feed primarily at night on small crustaceans, polychaete worms, and mollusks.

Bigscale Goatfish, Pseudupeneus grandisquamis: Caught in predawn hours on a sabiki rig just off the La Playita breakwater, San Jose del Cabo, Baja California Sur, Mexico, in October 2007. Size, approximately 6 inches. Description and photo courtesy of John Snow.