Thicklip Grey Mullet

Overview

The thicklip grey mullet (Chelon labrosus) is a coastal, schooling fish widely distributed across the Eastern Atlantic, Mediterranean, and Black Sea. Known for its adaptability, this species frequently enters brackish lagoons, estuaries, and even freshwater environments, often congregating near harbors and outfalls.

Distribution & habitat

Its range extends from Iceland and Scandinavia in the north down to Senegal and the Cape Verde archipelago in the south. While adults typically inhabit inshore coastal waters, they may move into deeper oceanic zones during colder seasons and migrate northward as temperatures rise in the summer.

Appearance

This species features a cylindrical, elongated body with a broad, flattened head and a large, forked tail. It is characterized by its grey-blue dorsal coloration, which transitions to a silvery hue on the flanks and belly, often marked by faint longitudinal stripes. Its most distinctive feature is its thick upper lip, which is roughly as deep as the pupil and covered in several rows of small papillae.

Biology & behavior

Thicklip grey mullets are catadromous, meaning they move between marine and freshwater environments throughout their life cycle. They are social fish that travel in schools and are known to be eurythermal and euryhaline, allowing them to thrive in varying temperatures and salinities. They can live up to 25 years.

Feeding

Adults are primarily omnivorous, grazing on benthic diatoms, epiphytic algae, small invertebrates, and detritus. Juveniles, by contrast, feed mainly on zooplankton.

Reproduction

Spawning occurs at sea during the winter months. The species is oviparous, producing pelagic eggs that drift with the currents. As they develop, juveniles often migrate into coastal lagoons and estuaries to feed before returning to the sea.