Theflathead grey mullet[2] (Mugil cephalus) is an important food fish species in themulletfamilyMugilidae. It is found in coastaltemperate,tropical andsubtropical waters worldwide.[2] Its length is typically 30 to 75 centimetres (12 to 30 in). It is known with numerous English names, including theflathead mullet, striped mullet (US, American Fisheries Society name),black mullet, bully mullet, common mullet, grey mullet, sea mullet andmullet, among others.[1][3]
The flathead grey mullet is a mainly diurnal coastal species that often entersestuaries and rivers. It usually schools over sand or mud bottoms, feeding onzooplankton, dead plant matter,microalgae anddetritus.[4] The adult fish normally feed onalgae in fresh water. The species iseuryhaline, meaning that the fish can acclimate to different levels of salinity.[5]
The back of the fish is olive-green, sides are silvery and shade to white towards the belly.[2] The fish may have six to seven distinctive lateral horizontal stripes. Lips are thin.[2] The mullet has nolateral line. A common length is about 50 centimetres (20 in), and its maximum length is 100 centimetres (39 in).[2] It can reach a maximum weight of eight kilograms (18 lb).[5]
The flathead mullet is cosmopolitan in coastal waters of the tropical, subtropical and temperate zones of all seas,[2] as far north as theBay of Biscay andNova Scotia in the Atlantic Ocean.[1]It occupies fresh, brackish andmarine habitats in depths ranging between 0–120 metres (0–394 ft) and with temperatures between 8–24 °C (46–75 °F).[5]
In Australia, the fish is widespread, fromFar North Queensland, around southern Australia to theKimberley region ofWestern Australia. They also occur in theBass Strait area of Tasmania. They live intropical andtemperate coastal marine and estuarine waters, but are also often found in the lower reaches of rivers. They are able to live in a wide range ofsalinity and so may also be found inlagoons, lakes and far intoestuaries, but migrate back to the sea to spawn.[6]
In freshwaters of the western United States, the striped mullet historically ranged far up theColorado River to the vicinity of Blythe and up theGila River to perhapsTacna. Because of the dams and restricted flows to theGulf of California, the range in Arizona is restricted to the Colorado River below Laguna Dam and the lower end of the Gila River when there is water present. They are often abundant in the mainstream and lateral canals in the Gila River region.[7]
In theColorado River mullet arepelagic in larger pools, sometimes moving into currents below dams, and generally occurring in small groups.[5]
The mullet populations are currently declining in Arizona, due to periods when the Colorado River does not reach the Gulf of California.[citation needed]
The flathead grey mullet is an important food fish around the world, and it is both fished and farmed. The reported worldwide catches from fishing in 2012 were about 130,000 tonnes andaquaculture production was 142,000 tonnes.[8]
Theontogeny of mugilid larvae has been well studied, with the larval development ofMugil cephalus in particular being studied intensively due to its wide range of distribution and interest toaquaculture.[9] The previously understudiedosteological development ofMugil cephalus was investigated in a 2021 study, with four embryonic and six larval developmental steps being described in aquaculture-reared and wild-caught specimens.[9] These descriptions provided clarification of questionable characters of adult mullets and revealed informative details with potential implications forphylogenetic hypotheses, as well as providing an overdue basis of comparison for aquaculture-reared mullets to enable recognition of malformations.[9]
On the coast of Northwest Florida and Alabama, this mullet, called the striped or black mullet, is often a specialty of seafood restaurants. Fried mullet is most popular, but smoked, baked, and canned mullet are also eaten. Local fishermen usually catch mullet in acastnet, though most use a land-basedseine net. Mullet is a delicacy in this area and is most often consumed in the home. Mullet are usuallyfilleted, and the remainingframes used for fish stock in chowders and stews.[10] The mullet most commonly consumed in Florida however is thewhite mullet (Mugil curema), because its preference for cleaner water gives it a cleaner and less muddy taste.[11]
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