Upeneus moluccensis (Bleeker 1855) —Goldband goatfish

Taxonomy. First record from Lebanon as Upeneus moluccensis (Bleeker 1855) by George et al. (1964: 18); subsequently recorded as Upeneus moluccensis (Bleeker) by Mouneimné (1977: 63); as Upeneus moluccensis (Bleeker 1855) by Mouneimné (2002: 157–158); recently recorded as Upeneus moluccensis by Bariche et al. (2007: 112); as Upeneus moluccensis by Carpentieri et al. (2009: 3); as Upeneus moluccensis by Bariche et al. (2015: 2366); as Upeneus moluccensis by Fanelli et al. (2015: 2169). Material in collection: AUBM, BMNH, ROM and USNM.

Distribution. Red Sea, Indo-West Pacific: East Africa, Madagascar and Réunion east to Caroline Islands and New Guinea, north to southern Japan, south to Western Australia and Queensland (Australia); eastern Mediterranean Sea and Sea of Marmara (Red Sea immigrant).

Conservation. IUCN: Global (LC: 11 March 2015). Capture and threats: Unknown. Occurrence: Very common. Non-indigenous species, no conservation action needed .