| Family: |
Mugilidae (Mullets) |
| Max. size: |
30 cm SL (male/unsexed); max. reported age: 4 years |
| Environment: |
reef-associated; freshwater; brackish; marine; depth range 0 - 5 m, catadromous |
| Distribution: |
Indo-Pacific: East Africa to the Marquesan Islands, north to the Philippines and the South China Sea, south to Tonga and tropical Australia (Ref. 1602, 9812). |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 5-5; Dorsal soft rays (total): 7-9; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 8-10. Description: Rear adipose eyelid covers about 1/3 iris, and is better developed than front eyelid; preorbital unnotched, bent slightly downward, edge strongly serrate; teeth in upper jaw, none in lower jaw; all palate bones edentate, tongue toothed (Ref. 4393). First dorsal fin with 4 spines, second dorsal fin with 1 spine and 8 soft rays; anal fin with 3 spines and 9 soft rays; pectoral fin with 15 rays; dorsal spines strong (Ref. 4393). Scales on lateral line 26-28; scaly process at first dorsal-fin base 4.5 times in predorsal distance; no pectoral axillary scale, but behind upper part of pectoral-fin base is a small scaly process; second dorsal fin completely scaly with heavy basal scaly sheath (Ref. 4393). Colouration: Olive-brown dorsally, silvery or white ventrally (Ref. 9812). Distal margins of dorsal fins and caudal fin dusky (Ref. 9812). |
| Biology: |
School in shallow coastal waters; enter lagoons, estuaries, and rivers to feed (Ref. 9812). It feeds on plant detritus, microalgae, minute benthic organisms, and organic matter in sand and mud; juveniles feed on planktonic algae (Ref. 9812). Oviparous, eggs are pelagic and non-adhesive (Ref. 205). Also caught with stakenets and is marketed fresh (Ref. 9812). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 02 July 2016 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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