Sea Mullet

Overview

The Sea Mullet (Mugil cephalus), also known as the flathead grey mullet, is a widely distributed, euryhaline fish found in coastal tropical, subtropical, and temperate waters worldwide. This robust, schooling species is highly adaptable, frequently moving between marine, estuarine, and freshwater environments.

Distribution & habitat

While historically considered a single circumglobal species, recent genetic research suggests it may be a complex of cryptic species, with the name Mugil cephalus strictly applying to populations in the North-East Atlantic and Mediterranean. They typically inhabit shallow coastal areas, lagoons, and the lower reaches of rivers, often schooling over sandy or muddy bottoms. They are remarkably tolerant of varying salinity levels and temperatures.

Appearance

The Sea Mullet has a stout, cylindrical body that is slightly compressed, featuring a broad, flattened head and a blunt snout. Its coloration is generally grayish-brown or olive-green on the back, fading to a silvery-white belly, often with faint, dark longitudinal stripes along the sides. A key identifying feature is the well-developed adipose eyelid that covers much of the pupil, along with a dark bluish spot at the base of the pectoral fin.

Biology & behavior

These fish are primarily diurnal and are well-known for their habit of leaping out of the water, a behavior potentially linked to predator avoidance or aerial respiration in low-oxygen environments. They are social, forming large schools for protection. Adults typically migrate offshore to deeper waters to spawn, while juveniles move into shallow, inshore nursery grounds.

Feeding

As opportunistic feeders, they consume a diet consisting of detritus, microalgae, zooplankton, and decaying plant matter. They often use their small, close-set teeth to graze on algae and organic material from the substrate.