West African Goatfish

Pseudupeneus prayensis

The West African goatfish (Pseudupeneus prayensis) is a medium-sized reef fish reaching up to 30 cm. It has a reddish to pink body with a distinctive dark lateral spot and a pair of long, flexible barbels under the chin used for detecting prey in sandy substrates. Found in the eastern Atlantic from Portugal to Angola, including the Mediterranean Sea, Madeira, and the Canary Islands, it inhabits rocky reefs, sandy bottoms, and seagrass beds at depths of 5 to 100 meters. This species uses its chemosensory barbels to probe sand and rubble for buried crustaceans, worms, and mollusks, creating small sediment clouds that attract follower fish seeking escaped prey. It is often seen in small groups methodically working across sandy patches between reef areas, providing entertaining behavioral observations for divers.