Flathead grey mullet

📖 Overview

Adults are found in coastal waters , often entering estuaries and rivers , sometimes far-up-river, lagoons and hypersaline environments ; and in mangrove areas . They are usually in schools over sand or mud bottom , between 0 and 10 m, occurring equally in tropical, subtropical and temperate waters (Project MUGIL). They are mainly diurnal, feeding on detritus, micro-algae and benthic organisms . Juveniles feed on zooplankton until about 3.0 cm SL . Reproduction takes place at sea, at various times of the year depending on the location. Adults form schools and migrate offshore to spawn and developing larvae migrate back inshore . There is absence of an obligatory freshwater phase in the life cycle . Females spawn 0.8 to 2.6 million eggs which develop at sea. Sexually mature at 3 to 4 years . Maximum length reported as 120 cm SL remains to be confirmed (Project MUGIL). Maximum weight reported as 12 kg seems too high for the area and remains to be confirmed (Project MUGIL). Widely cultivated in freshwater and brackish ponds. Marketed fresh, dried, salted, and frozen; roe sold fresh or smoked ; also used in Chinese medicine .

🔬 Taxonomy

🐟 Physical Description

Dorsal spines (total): 5; Dorsal soft rays (total): 7 - 9; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 8 - 9. Diagnosis: body stout, cylindrical in cross-section, slightly compressed; head broad and flattened . Well developed adipose eyelid covering most of pupil . Upper lip thin and without papillae , with 1-2 outer rows of small, moderately close-set, unicuspid teeth and up to 6 inner rows of smaller, bicuspid teeth . Lower lip with outer row of small unicuspid teeth and sometimes 1 or more inner rows of smaller, bicuspid teeth . Hind end of upper jaw reaching a vertical line from anterior eye margin; maxillary pad not visible below corner of mouth when closed; origin of 1st dorsal fin nearer to snout tip than to caudal-fin base . Anterior parts and bases of 2nd dorsal and anal fins with a moderately dense coverage of scales . Pectoral axillary process . 13-15 scale rows between origins of dorsal and pelvic fins . Pelvic fins, anal fin, and lower lobe of caudal fin yellowish in specimens from the tropical Atlantic coast of Africa . : fusiform / normal; Cross section: circular.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Flathead grey mullet is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

Diet information for Flathead grey mullet is currently being compiled.

🥚 Reproduction

One spawning aggregation was observed in detail. This consisted of five fish, a female and four males. Males would press against the female, which took place as the entire group moved along slowly, facing into a fairly strong tidal flow.

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Marine; freshwater; brackish; benthopelagic; catadromous ; depth range 0 - 120 m , usually 0 - 10 m. Subtropical; 8°C - 24°C ; 62°N - 57°S, 180°W - 180°E South Africa (Ref.

🌿 Ecology

📐 Morphometrics

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

🌐 Names & Taxonomy

🐠 Related Species

🔍 Similar Species

🗺️ Global Occurrence Map

Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) — 934 records indexed .

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