@big.blue.sea: 5 fascinating facts about Goatfish (family Mullidae), the whiskered foragers of the reef: 1. Whisker-Like Barbels: Goatfish are instantly recognizable by the two barbels (“whiskers”) under their chin. These are packed with taste and touch sensors, helping them detect hidden prey in sand and rubble. 2. Sand-Sifters: They use their barbels to dig through sand, flipping it up as they search for worms, crustaceans, and mollusks. This constant foraging also turns over the seabed, helping recycle nutrients in reef ecosystems. 3. Masters of Color Change: Many goatfish can rapidly change their body color to blend into their surroundings or signal to other fish. Some even turn pale while resting on sand, then shift back to brighter colors when active. 4. School by Day, Hunt by Night: Goatfish often form large schools during the day, staying safe in numbers, and then split up at night to forage individually under the cover of darkness. 5. Worldwide Distribution: With more than 80 species in the family, goatfish are found in tropical and subtropical seas worldwide, from coral reefs and sandy lagoons to seagrass meadows. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . #goatfish #goat #reef #beautiful #fish "Music by CreatorMix.com"

Joseph Leverton

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Region: IL

Friday 29 August 2025 11:33:18 GMT