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Copyright Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute - 2008 to 2009

Species Information: Mugil cephalus

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PERCIFORMES - MUGILIDAE - MUGIL - MUGIL CEPHALUS

upper side - thin dark stripes
 		 D2 & A: scales front & base only
  		 lateral scales 37-43
  
Mugil cephalus
outer row teeth - 1 point
  		 pectoral not reaching origin D1
  		 A: III, 8
 


Mugil cephalus - Map
Mugil cephalus Map

Mugil cephalus - Details
Mugil cephalus Linnaeus, 1758

Striped mullet,     Grey mullet,     Flat-head mullet
 Moderately elongate, robust body; head broad, flattened above; eyes mostly covered by a well developed transparent fatty eyelid; mouth small (rear end of upper jaw reaching to level of anterior rim of eye),  opens at front,  lips thin, with knob at front of lower lips; outer row of teeth in jaws simple (not forked); no teeth on tongue or roof of mouth; two short, widely spaced dorsal fins, IV + I, 8;  anal fin III, 8; pectorals high on body, 1st  ray hard,  fin not reaching level of origin of first dorsal fin; pelvics inserted behind pectoral base; forked tail; scales moderate to large, rough on body of adults;  scales in lateral series 39-44; second dorsal and anal with scales on front and base only; no lateral line.

Olive on back, silvery on sides, and white below; 6-7 brownish stripes on side.

Size: grows to 135 cm.

Habitat: forms schools in sandy bottom areas, but large adults sometimes seen near the surface in clear water near reefs.

Depth: 0-125 m.

Circumglobal in tropical and temperate seas; Southern California to the Gulf of California to Peru; Cocos and Galapagos.


Mugil cephalus - Data
Size
Length Max: 135cm (S)
 
Habitat
 
Depth
Depth Range Min: 0m (S)
Depth Range Max: 125m (S)
 
Range
Paint Data:
  • Habitat(Area):
    		•  11,717.01 sq. km sq km
  • Latitude Limit North:
    		•  38
  • Latitude Limit South:
    		•  -20
  • Longtitude Limit West:
    		•  -123
  • Longtitude Limit East:
    		•  -70
  • Latitudinal(Range):
    		•  58.0
  • Longitudinal(Range):
    		•  53.00
  • Range Midpoint (lat/long):
    		•  9 , -96.5
  • Range Polygon Area:
    		•  4000000 sq km
  • Range Polygon Centroid (lat/long):
    		•  7.8, -90.37
     
    Sampling-Point Data:
  • Range Polygon Area :
    		•  3800000 sq km
  • Range Polygon Centroid (lat/long):
    		•  7.8, -90.19
     
    Zoogeography
    Global Endemism
  • Circumtropical ( Indian + Pacific + Atlantic Oceans)
  • "Transpacific" (East + Central &/or West Pacific)
  • East Pacific + Atlantic (East +/or West)
  • Transisthmian (East Pacific + Atlantic of Central America)
  • All Pacific (West + Central + East)
  • TEP non-endemic
  • East Pacific + all Atlantic (East+West)
    • Regional Endemism
  • Tropical Eastern Pacific (TEP) non-endemic
  • Eastern Pacific non-endemic
  • Island (s)
  • Continent
  • Continent + Island (s)
    • Residency
  • Resident
    • Climate Zone
  • North Temperate (Californian Province &/or Northern Gulf of California)
  • Northern Subtropical (Cortez Province + Sinaloan Gap)
  • Northern Tropical (Mexican Province to Nicaragua + Revillagigedos)
  • Equatorial (Costa Rica to Ecuador + Galapagos, Clipperton, Cocos, Malpelo)
  • South Temperate (Peruvian Province )
    •  
    Feeding
    Feeding Group
  • Herbivore
  • Planktivore
  • Detritivore
    • Diet
  • phytoplankton
  • benthic microalgae
  • detritus
  • zooplankton
  • pelagic fish eggs
    •  
    Habitat
    Salinity
  • Marine
  • Brackish
  • Freshwater
    • Inshore/Offshore
  • Inshore
  • Inshore Only
    • Water Column Position
  • Surface
  • Near Surface
  • Mid Water
  • Near Bottom
  • Bottom
  • Bottom + water column
    • Habitat
  • Estuary
  • Beach
  • Sand & gravel
  • Water column
  • Soft bottom (mud, sand,gravel, beach, estuary & mangrove)
  • Freshwater
    • FishBase Habitat
  • Bentho-Pelagic
    •  
    Reproduction
    Egg Type
  • Pelagic
  • Pelagic larva
    •  
    Conservation status
    IUCN Red List
  • Not evaluated / Listed
    • CITES
  • Not listed
    •  


    Copyright Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute - 2008 to 2009