Species: Mugil cephalus, Flathead Mullet, Striped Mullet

Mugil cephalus Linnaeus, 1758

Striped Mullet, Flathead Mullet

Moderately elongate, robust body, depth at origin of dorsal fin 24-28% of SL; head same as or deeper than wide at level of end of operculum; head wide, flat on top; 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 with one point inner 1-6 rows with 2 points; upper lip with tiny teeth; two short, widely spaced dorsal fins, IV + l, 8, origin of 2nd dorsal fin just behind origin of anal fin; anal fin III, 8; pectorals high on body, 1st ray hard, i, 15-16, 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 38 (37-43), 13-15 in transverse series, 19-20 around base of tail; second dorsal and anal fins with small scales on front of base only; no lateral line.

Olive on back, silvery on sides, and white below; 7-10 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, in inshore marine waters plus estuaries, lagoons and rivers.

Depth: 0-20 m, usually nearshore.

Circumglobal in tropical and temperate seas; Canada to the Gulf of Mexico and NW Caribbean.

Note: Genetic analyses indicate that this comprises at least 14, mainly allopatric, species, worldwide.