Other Goats: the Goat Fish

Did you know there was a "Goat Fish".  You might know it by its other common name, the surmullet.

Interestingly, they have a pair of chin barbels - and that's my mother's name.  Well actually her name is Bärbel which is the German equivalent of Barbara... but I digress.

The biggest goatfish can be 55 cm (21.6535433 inches) - and yes, they are "food fish" - aka people eat them.  In fact, in ancient Rome until the end of the second century A.D. two species of goatfish (Mullus barbatus and Mullus surmuletus) were highly sought-after and expensive, however not as a delicacy, but for aesthetic pleasure, since the fish assume a variety of colors and shades also during death (see also above). Therefore it was paramount to serve live fish and let it die before the eyes of the guests. True fact.    (you can read more about it here)