Themullets orgrey mullets are afamily (Mugilidae) ofray-finned fish found worldwide in coastal temperate and tropical waters, and some species in fresh water.[1] Mullets have served as an important source of food inMediterranean Europe sinceRoman times. Inancient Egypt, people ate pickled and dried mullet calledfesikh.[2][3] The family includes about 78 species in 26 genera.[4]
Mullets are distinguished by the presence of two separatedorsal fins, small triangular mouths, and the absence of alateral line organ. They feed ondetritus, and most species have unusually muscular stomachs and a complexpharynx to help in digestion.[1]
Mugil cephalus Thick lips of a mullet Mullets in the Mediterranean Sea
Taxonomically, the family is placed in the orderMugiliformes, which is named after it.[5] Until recently, it was considered the only member of Mugiliformes, but more recent taxonomic treatments suggest that they are closely related to theAsiatic glassfishes (Ambassidae), which are now also placed in the group.[6] The presence of fin spines clearly indicates membership in the superorderAcanthopterygii, and in the 1960s, they were classed as primitiveperciforms,[7] while others have grouped them inAtheriniformes.[8]
In North America, "mullet" by itself usually refers to Mugilidae. In Europe, the word "mullet" is usually qualified, the "grey mullets" being Mugilidae and the "red mullets" or "surmullets" being Mullidae, notably members of the genusMullus.[9] Outside Europe, the Mullidae are often called "goatfish".[10] Fish with common names including the word "mullet" may be a member of one family or the other, or even unrelated such as the freshwaterCatostomus commersonii.[11]
However, recent taxonomic work has reorganised the family and the following genera make up the Mugilidae:[12][4]
A common noticeable behaviour in mullet is the tendency to leap out of the water. There are two distinguishable types of leaps: a straight, clean slice out of the water to escape predators and a slower, lower jump while turning to its side that results in a larger, more distinguishable, splash. The reasons for this lower jump are disputed, but have been hypothesised to be in order to gain oxygen rich air for gas exchange in a small organ above the pharynx.[15]
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.[16] 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.[16] 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.[16]
^abJohnson, G.D. & Gill, A.C. (1998). Paxton, J.R. & Eschmeyer, W.N. (eds.).Encyclopedia of Fishes. San Diego: Academic Press. p. 192.ISBN978-0-12-547665-2.
^Nishimoto 1, Shimoda 2, Nishiura 3, Robert T. 1, Troy E. 2, Lance K. 3 (2007)."Mugilids in the Muliwai: a Tale of Two Mullets"(PDF).Bishop Museum Bulletin in Cultural and Environmental Studies.3:143–156.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
.png)
