Species: Mugil brevirostris, Short Snouted Mullet

Mugil brevirostris (Ribeiro, 1915)

Short Snouted Mullet

Body elongate, compressed, relatively deep; head deeper than wide at level of edge of operculum; top of head flat; snout shorter than eye diameter; fatty (adipose) tissue covering most of eye; mouth small, ~opens at front, rear end of upper jaw not reaching to level of anterior rim of eye; teeth with single point, spatulate, slightly curved tips outer row on top lip larger than inner teeth, lower lip with 1 row of close-set fine teeth that are smaller than teeth on top lip; gill rakers 21-25; two short, widely spaced dorsal fins, IV (origin equidistant between tail fin base and tip of snout) + i, 8 adults (ii,7 in small juveniles); anal fin III, 8 (II, i8 in small juveniles); pectorals high on body, ii, 12-14, reaching slightly past level of origin of first dorsal fin; pelvics I,5; scales in lateral series from top of pectoral base to base of tail fin 35-38 (33-39), 12-14 in transverse series, 18-19 around base of tail; second dorsal and anal entirely with small scales, except rear edge; no lateral line.

Body silvery, a little darker above; 1st dorsal, pelvic and anal fins pale; 2nd dorsal and tail fin with blackish rear edges; pectoral with dark spot covering bases of top ii+5 rays.

Size: grows to 26 cm.

Habitat: inshore fresh, brackish and marine coastal waters.

Depth: 0-25 m, typically inshore.

Southern Caribbean to Brazil.