Rachel Valliere
Mugiliformes (Latin mugil – (mullet))
Taxonomy: Class Actinopterygii
Order Mugilliformes
Family Mugilidae
17 genera, 72 species
Description: Very faint lateral line if present, two separate dorsal fins, one short anal fin,
tail slightly forked, high pectoral fins, ctenoid or cycloid scales. Maximum length
of about 90cm. Look slightly like a torpedo.
Habitat: Shallow, near shore waters of estuaries or saltwater with a muddy vegetated
bottom.
Distribution: Found all over the world, but mostly in tropical waters. Some species
stretch up into temperate waters. Some species can be found in fresh water.
Not usually found in waters greater than 200m. usually found in waters of 20m.
Ecology and life history: Species school to drive predators away, and before they
spawn.
Spawning occurs in shallow areas near shore, or in a river, because the salt
content is less. The eggs are pelagic and do not stick.
Younger stages eat plankton, both zooplankton and phytoplankton.
Larger mullets eat small plants, small invertebrates, and detritus.
Additional details: A variety of species are andromadous (breed in freshwater, dwell in
salt water), or catadroumous (breed in saltwater, dwell in freshwater). The only
potamodromous species to migrate only in freshwater is the Abu Mullet (Liza
abu), which is found in Turkey.
Used widely as food and they are either caught or farmed.
Not threatened because they are found worldwide.
Recent research:
Fraga, E., H. Schneider, M. Nirchio, E. Santa-Brigida, L. F. Rodrigues-Filho, and I.
Sampaio. 2007. Molecular Phylogenetic analyses of mullets (Mugilidae,
Mugiliformes) based on two mitochondrial genes. Journal of Applied
Ichthyology. 23:598-604
References used:
Allen C. J., et al. 2005. Mullets: Mugiliformes. Grizmek’s Student Animal Life Resource
Edition. Detriot.
Bond, C.E. 1979. Biology of Fishes 1st ed. Saunders College Publising, Fort Worth
Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors 2011. FishBase