White mullet (Mugil curema) fish species and information / pictures of White mullet - Mugil curema

White mullet (Mugil curema) fish species information

Scientific Name
Mugil curema

Common Name
White mullet

Biology
Inhabit sandy coasts and littoral pools but also occurs in muddy bottoms of brackish lagoons and estuaries. Sometimes penetrate rivers. May also be found on coral reefs (Ref. 9710). Juveniles are common in coastal waters and are known to find their way to estuaries and coastal lagoons. Growth in juveniles is moderate (30-40 cm in 4 years). Adults form schools (Ref. 9321). Feed on microscopic or filamentous algae and small juveniles of planktonic organisms (Ref. 9626). Reproduction occurs between March and August. Spawn several million eggs provided with a notable yolk (Ref. 35237). Oviparous, eggs are pelagic and non-adhesive (Ref. 205). An important foodfish, it is marketed fresh and salted (Ref. 9321).

Classification

Classified By

Valenciennes, 1836

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Mullets (Mugiliformes)

Family

Mullets (Mugilidae)

Distribution

Region

Western Atlantic

Distribution

Western Atlantic: Nova Scotia, but uncommon north of Cape Cod (Harrison, pers. Comm.) to Argentina (Ref. 74796). Eastern Atlantic: Senegal to Namibia (Harrison, pers. Comm.). Eastern Pacific: Gulf of California to Chile (Ref. 9321).

Range

45°N - 5°N

Environment

Climate

Subtropical

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

15 m

Depth To - meters

Unknown m

Zone

reef-associated

Environment

Marine; freshwater; brackish; reef-associated; catadromous (Ref. 51243); depth range 15 - ? m (Ref. 9710)

Trophic Level

2.01 s.e. 0.04 Based on diet studies.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

True

Occurs in Fresh Water

True

Occurs on Reefs

True

Is kept in Aquariums

False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

90.0 cm

Common Length

30.0 cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.5000 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: commercial; aquaculture: commercial; bait: occasionally

Vulnerability

High vulnerability (59 of 100)

Resilience

Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (tm=2-3; Fec=>50,000)

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated