This species is usually seen alone or paired on lagoon and seaward reefs where it spends the day going from one sand patch to another to dig for prey. They can often be spotted from a distance by the cloud of silt they raise while digging. They are often shadowed by other fish predators waiting for the digging to dislodge prey that they can snatch before the goatfish does. Some individuals have the yellow above the longitudinal black line down each side.
The goatfish is being shadowed by a predatory trumpetfish, who hovers nearby when the goat digs in sand, waiting for the goat to scare up some prey it can snag.
Adults are usually solitary, but juveniles tend to be found in small schools.
Created 17 September 2017
Updated 19 June 2021