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  • top of head convex
    no fatty eyelid
    D2 9
    scales with dark edges, fins yellow
    Dajaus monticola, Mountain Mullet
    mouth opens at front
    A II, 10
    soft D & A - scales on bases
  • top of head convex
    no fatty eyelid
    D 2 10
    Joturus pichardi, Bobo Mullet
    mouth under snout
    A II, 11
    soft D & A - covered with scales
  • body relatively deep
    snout shorter than eye
    D IV + I,8
    pectoral ii,12-14, reach just past D1 origin
    lateral scales 35-38
    D2 & A all scaled, except rear edge
    Mugil brevirostris, Short Snouted Mullet
    mouth short, not reaching under eye
    teeth - 1 point
    A III,8
  • body robust, depth at D origin 24-28%SL
    D2 origin just behind A origin
    Mugil cephalus, Striped Mullet, Flathead Mullet
    top teeth: outer row 1 point
    pectoral not reaching D1
    A: III, 8
    D2 & A: scales front base only
    lateral scales 37-43
  • iris white
    opercle: large gold spot
    pectoral: dark blotch - base top 10 rays
    flank: stripes
    D2 front tip dark
    flank scales + small accessory scales
    Mugil curema, White Mullet
    top teeth minute, wide tips
    pectoral 15-17, not quite reaching D origin
    A dark, III, 9-10
    scales: 34-39 lateral, 8-11 before pectoral
    D2 & A: completely scaled
  • D2 I,I, 8
    Mugil curvidens, Dwarf Mullet
    outer teeth: long, 1 point, recurved
    pectoral not reaching D1
    A: III, 8
    lateral scales 34-37
    D2 & A: entirely scaled
  • D1 origin nearer snout than C
    Mugil incilis, Trench Mullet, Parassi Mullet
    outer row teeth: wide-spaced, recurved, 1 point
    pectoral not reaching D1
    A: III, 9
    scales: 42-47 lateral, 20-23 around tail base
    D2 & A: entirely scaled
  • body slender, depth at D origin 17-23%SL
    D2 origin over front 1/4-1/3 of A
    Mugil liza, Liza, Lebranche Mullet, Liza Mullet
    outer teeth 1 point, 1-6 inner rows 2 points
    pectoral not reaching origin D1
    A: III, 8
    lateral scales 29-34
    D2 & A: scales front base + 1 rear row
  • elongate, slender
    no stripes, operculum - yellow spot
    D2 8
    tail base long
    Mugil longicauda, Longtail Mullet
    pectoral: 15-16, no large scale on inner base, ends well before D origin
    A III, 9
    D2&A: small scales
    37-39 lateral scales
  • flank: faint stripes
    fins pale, C edge dark
    D origin mid-body
    Mugil margaritae, Margarita Mullet
    pectoral: not reaching D origin; ii,13-15
    pectoral base: large dark blotch
    A III, 9
    scales: 40-44 lateral, 13-15 from D origin to pelvic origin
  • iris orange/red
    opercle: small gold spot
    top pectoral base: small dark spot
    flank: no stripes
    D2 tip - conspicuous black spot
    flank scales: usually no small accessory scales
    A pale
    Mugil rubrioculus, Redeye Mullet
    teeth absent/minute, short
    pectoral 15-17, not quite reaching D origin
    A: III, 9
    scales: 35-38 lateral, 8-11 before pectoral
    D2 & A: completely scaled
  • D2 I, 7
    Mugil trichodon, Fantail Mullet
    outer teeth: spaced, 1 point, slightly recuved, top larger
    pectoral not reaching origin D1
    A: III, 8
    scales: 28-34 lateral, 16 around tail base
    D2 & A: entirely scaled