Description:

Dorsal spines: 8; Dorsal rays: 9; Anal spines: 1; Anal rays: 7.
Typical mullidae/parupeneus body shape. 2 slender barbels that reach past margin of preopercle 
Mouth small, maxilla reaching about 2/3 distance to front edge of eye. Single row of stout conical teeth on jaws. 3 rows of scales in interdorsal space. Soft dorsal and anal fins not scaly.
Colour. A pale goatfish, greenish brown to reddish brown above with dark scale edges, becoming pale pink to whitish below. A dusky to dark stripe from the snout, through the eye to the beginning of the lateral line. Barbels white.  An elongate bright yellow patch on the lateral line below the interdorsal space. A large black spot on the caudal peduncle centred just above the lateral line. A slightly curved pale blue line passing from above mouth to lower edge of eye and beyond. A second shorter line below and parallel to it. Short lines radiating dorsoposteriorly from eye. Second dorsal, anal and caudal fins with narrow pale blue stripes. Caudal fin yellowish grey. 
 

Maturity: Lm unknown. Range unknown. Max Length: 40cm TL. Commonly to 35cm TL. 

Inhabits shallow sandy or silty areas often in seagrass or weedy areas, generally in the vicinity of rocky bottom or reefs (depth 10-30m). Benthic species. Occurs singly or in groups, often seen in aggregations. Feed on benthic invertebrates; including small crabs, amphipods, shrimps, small octopuses, polychaete worms, and small fish. 

This species is not protected or subject to fishery regulations. It is caught in the fish trap fishery, but is a rare component of the catch. 

Bray, D.J. 2016. Parupeneus indicus in Fishes of Australia, http://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/591 (08/07/19).

Fischer, W. & G. Bianchi (eds), (1984).  FAO species identification sheets for fishery purposes. Western Indian Ocean; (Fishing Area 51). Prepared and printed with the support of the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA). Rome, Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations, vols 1-6.

Froese, R. & D. Pauly. Eds. 2019. FishBase. https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Parupeneus-indicus.html (08/07/19).

Heemstra P & Heemstra, E. (2004). Coastal Fishes of Southern Africa. NISC SAIAB. ISBN: 1-920033-01-7.

Smith-Vaniz, W.F. & Williams, I. 2016. Parupeneus indicus (errata version published in 2017). The IUCN Red List 2016: e.T69182614A115460779. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T69182614A69183294.en. (08/07/19).