Family: MUGILIDAE, Mullet, Mullets

FAMILY MUGILIDAE

MULLETS

Mullets are medium to large (to 160 cm), silvery grey fishes with a moderately elongate body; head often broad and flattened above; eyes partly covered by a transparent fatty eyelid; mouth small, opens at front or under snout, lips usually relatively thin; teeth usually very small or absent; two short, widely spaced dorsal fins, 1st with IV slender spines; pectorals high on body, 1st ray hard; pelvics inserted behind pectoral base; tail concave or weakly forked; scales moderate to large, rough on body; some species have large modified scales at insertions of pectoral, pelvic and dorsal fins; no lateral line.

This pantropical to temperate family contains approximately 75 species in 17 genera. In the Greater Caribbean there are 10 species in 3 genera.

PREPARED BY D ROSS ROBERTSON, AFTER HARRISON (2002)