The yellowstripe goatfish (''Mulloidichthys flavolineatus'') is a species of

goatfish The goatfishes are perciform fish of the family Mullidae. The family is also sometimes referred to as the red mullets, which also refers more narrowly to the genus '' Mullus''. The family name and the English common name mullet derived from La ...

native to the Pacific Ocean and the Indian Ocean. The fish is known as Weke 'a'a in Hawaiian.

Description

The species' color ranges from grey to white on its sides with red-orange to pure yellow fins. In order to keep itself safe at night it is able to

camouflage Camouflage is the use of any combination of materials, coloration, or illumination for concealment, either by making animals or objects hard to see, or by disguising them as something else. Examples include the leopard's spotted coat, the b ...

and blend in to the color of its surroundings. This prevents the fish from being spotted by predators. It is a schooling species, generally found feeding in large groups.

Distribution and habitat

The yellowstripe goatfish occurs in the Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean in nearshore sandy bottoms and shore reefs at depths of less than 100 meters. It

spawns Spawn is the eggs and sperm released or deposited into water by aquatic animals. As a verb, ''to spawn'' refers to the process of releasing the eggs and sperm, and the act of both sexes is called spawning. Most aquatic animals, except for aquat ...

Hawaii Hawaii ( ; haw, Hawaii or ) is a state in the Western United States, located in the Pacific Ocean about from the U.S. mainland. It is the only U.S. state outside North America, the only state that is an archipelago, and the only state ...

throughout the year with increased activity from February through June.

Human use

This species is used as a food item in Hawaii. It tastes like shrimp, its primary source of food. It is best to be kept cool after harvesting and preserved for longer periods of time in the freezer. Before preparing the fish, it has to be cleaned thoroughly by removing the

intestinal tract The gastrointestinal tract (GI tract, digestive tract, alimentary canal) is the tract or passageway of the digestive system that leads from the mouth to the anus. The GI tract contains all the major organs of the digestive system, in humans ...

. People enjoy fishing for goatfish and it is a species that can easily be found by snorkelers throughout the Indo-Pacific.

Cultural significance

The Weke 'a'a lives for fewer than 5 years. Adults fish for them in Hawaii and Guam.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q2400284 Mullidae Fish of the Indian Ocean Fish of the Pacific Ocean Fish described in 1801 Taxa named by Bernard Germain de Lacépède Wikipedia Student Program