Flathead grey mullet

The flathead grey mullet, known scientifically as Mugil cephalus, is a vital fish species.

It belongs to the Mugilidae family. This fish is a major food source for people across the globe. It is found in coastal waters within tropical, subtropical, and temperate zones. Because it lives in so many places, it is considered a cosmopolitan species. It is known by many different English names. These include the striped mullet, black mullet, and sea mullet. Some people simply call it the common mullet or the bully mullet.

This species is euryhaline, which means it can adapt to different levels of salinity. Salinity is the amount of salt in the water. This ability allows the fish to live in many environments. It can inhabit marine habitats, brackish water, and even fresh water. You might find them in lagoons, lakes, and estuaries. They often move into the lower reaches of rivers. However, they must migrate back to the sea to spawn.

This movement between salt and fresh water is a key part of their life cycle.

The physical appearance of the flathead grey mullet is quite distinct. Its back is olive-green in color. The sides of the fish are silvery. Moving toward the belly, the color shades to white. One of its most recognizable features is the presence of six to seven horizontal stripes. These stripes run along the side of the body. The fish has thin lips and lacks a lateral line. In terms of size, they typically reach a common length of about 30 centimeters. However, they can grow much larger. They can reach a maximum length of 1 meter and a maximum weight of 4 kilograms.

The lifestyle of the striped mullet is mostly diurnal. This means they are active during the daylight hours. They often live in schools, which are groups of fish swimming together. These schools usually stay over bottoms made of sand or mud. The fish feed on various organic materials. They eat zooplankton and microalgae. They also consume detritus and dead plant matter. When adult fish are in fresh water, they normally feed on algae.

The history of this fish includes interesting studies on its development. Scientists have studied the ontogeny, or life stages, of its larvae very closely. This is because the fish is so important for aquaculture, which is the farming of aquatic animals. In 2021, researchers investigated the osteological development of the species. This study looked at how the bones form in embryos and larvae. They described four embryonic steps and six larval developmental steps. This research helps farmers recognize malformations in fish they are raising.

The economic significance of the mullet is massive. In 2024, worldwide production reached approximately 125,000 tonnes. Only 5% of this total amount came from aquaculture. The rest was caught in the wild. In the United States, the species has a complex history in the western regions. They once lived far up the Colorado River near Blythe. They also reached the Gila River near Tacna. Today, dams and restricted water flows have changed their range. In Arizona, they are now restricted to the Colorado River below the Laguna Dam. Populations in Arizona are currently declining because the river sometimes fails to reach the Gulf of California.

Culinary uses for the mullet vary greatly between different cultures. The roe, or fish eggs, is a highly prized specialty. People salt, dry, and compress the roe to create unique foods. In Italy, this is known as bottarga. In Greece, it is called avgotaraho. Other names include Wuyutsu in Taiwan, eoran in Korea, and karasumi in Japan. It is also called poutargue in France, Haviar in Turkey, and batarekh in Egypt. In Egypt, the entire fish is sometimes salted, dried, and pickled to make a food called fesikh.

In the United States, particularly near Northwest Florida and Alabama, the mullet is a seafood specialty. Local fishermen often use a castnet or a land-based seine net to catch them. People enjoy eating the fish fried, smoked, baked, or canned. When preparing the fish, people often fillet it. They use the remaining frames to make fish stock for stews and chowders. Interestingly, many people in Florida prefer the white mullet. This is because the white mullet lives in cleaner water. This preference results in a taste that is less muddy than the striped mullet.