One of the fish that can be found most in all the world's oceans is the mullet fish. Its species has spread enormously and, therefore, depending on the area where it is sighted, it may have different common names, apart from the mullet fish. It is known by names such as mullet, furniture, mule o mugil. Its scientific name is mugil cephalus. Belongs to the group de peces teleosts, order Mugiliformes and the Mugilidae family.
In this post we are going to explain the characteristics, lifestyle and reproduction of the mullet fish, as well as its comportamiento, Feeding Habits, Distribution area, its fishing and gastronomic interest, regional names, similar species y health aspects relevant. Want to know more? Don't miss out!
Key features
This fish has a very high capacity to withstand high levels of salinity. This is called being a euryhaline and eurythermic fish.The second is that it can tolerate different temperature ranges. Normally, all fish can remain healthy in a different range of temperatures. However, the mullet fish can tolerate a wide variety. This physiological plasticity It becomes a decisive factor in its proliferation throughout the world and is the main cause of its expansion across the globe.
It is not a species that needs many demanding conditions, so survival success is quite high. It can live in waters ranging from 4,5 ºC to 37 ºCThis wide temperature range allows it to be very versatile when it comes to adapting to different environments. Salinity also has a fairly wide range. It can live in salinities ranging from 0 to 45 psu (practical salinity units), which explains its presence in estuaries, coastal lagoons, inland waters and open sea.
The ability to adapt to different environments and depths depends on the size of the specimen. Mullet sizes less than or equal to 7 centimeters tend to live longer in sweet watersAlthough they can live in fresh water, it is not the most ideal habitat for them to reproduce and grow in, given that their life cycle is largely catadromous (they mature in inland waters and they spawn in the sea).
It has a rather elongated body and has two dorsal fins clearly separated from each other, pectoral fins and a caudal fin. The first dorsal fin usually has 4–5 spiny rays. The fins are relatively small compared to the total body size. It has large, clearly visible scales, and its mouth is terminal, not very large or pronounced. Its teeth are very small and have no filaments. A distinctive feature is the fatty eyelid which partially covers the eyes; in addition, lacks a lateral line visible and often shows 6–7 faint lateral stripes and a dark spot at the base of the pectorals.
Size and weight
We find specimens that They have a size that ranges between 30 and 60 centimetersDepending on the species, we'll find different proportions. Truly exceptional specimens have been found measuring up to 120 centimeters. They usually grow between 3,9 and 6,4 cm per yearFemales grow faster than males. They experience more pronounced growth in both summer and spring because temperatures are higher and food is more abundant.
As for weight, the most normal thing is that they are in a range of between 1,5 kg (the smallest or developing specimens) and 8 kilos (the largest and those that have reached maturity). In common populations, the specimens usually range in size from 3-4,5 kg, although records exceed that figure under optimal conditions.
The base color is grayish, tending toward white. The discoloration is shown in descending order, and the dorsal area is the darkest part of the entire body, with greenish or bluish reflections, and silver flanks. It is capable of reaching between 4 and 16 years old, depending on numerous factors; in some populations they have been documented longevity of up to 25 yearsIt can also be kept in captivity, although as is normal, the life expectancy is shorter.
Habitat and area of distribution
Being able to adapt to almost any aquatic environment, its distribution area is enormous. It is capable of sustaining life in both freshwater and marine ecosystems. It is considered a species cosmopolitan, as it can be in many different places.
Where most frequent We can find the mullet fish in tropical and subtropical waters.. The place where the fish will decide to live will be determined by some aspects that are important to them. The first is that they can have enough space with reefs and abundant vegetationThe second is that it needs a shore to live. They are usually found at depths of Up to 120 meters and that is how they can navigate to shallow waters.
As for its distribution, mugil cephalus occupies the western Atlantic coasts (from temperate latitudes north to South America, including the Gulf of Mexico), the Eastern Atlantic (from the Bay of Biscay to southern Africa), all the Mediterranean Sea and the Black SeaAs well as Eastern Pacific (from southern California to Chile). It is very common in estuaries y coastal lagoons, and also abounds in ports and bays, thanks to their tolerance to salinity variability already at certain levels of organic material in water.
In Spain it is easily observed along many coasts. We can see it in Catalonia, Valencia and Murcia, and is very common in Andalusia, with frequent records in port and estuarine areas. In warmer weather, it can be seen in open waters near the coast, forming shoals superficial.
Feeding and reproduction of the mullet fish
Among the diet of these mugs we can see different varied options. It is an omnivorous species, so he eats everything. The main source of food is the organic waste and materials found floating in the water or on the seabed. It is always on the lookout for what can be found on the seabed deposited on the substrate. It can also eat the moss and biofilm that forms on the seabed and on rocks or submerged structures. It has adaptations such as a very muscular stomach or with a long intestine that allow you take advantage of sediments and detritus after filtering them with the help of the device buccopharyngobranchial; for this reason they are often considered iliophagous.
Generally, the most abundant food in their diet is:
- Seaweed, such as red algae or green algae.
- Various crustaceans.
- Nematodes and other annelid species.
- Zooplankton.
Among this variety, the mullet fish is the most active. In port and estuary environments, it can be seen foraging with the protractile mouth and head down, sucking the surface layer of sedimentthat later sift with pharyngeal and branchial structures.
Now we move on to reproduction (reproduction de peces in aquariums). This process is summarized in a great transit through the new offspring. Spawning is a longer period than normal, compared to other species, due to the fact that they have to find the ideal place for them.
They consider that the best place is the one farthest from the hustle and bustle and where a certain safety for the eggs can be guaranteed. The mujiles reproduce in two seasons a year. The first takes place in autumn and another in winterThey reach sexual maturity at Age 3 or when they reach a 20 centimeter lengthNot all fish have the same maturation capacity. Some are 40 cm long and are not yet reproductively active.
They lay 0,5 to 2 million eggs per female., however many of them do not survive. The eggs are pelagic y They take about 48 hours to hatch. The larvae (≈2,4 mm) They stay near the bed where the eggs have hatched and feed on the remains near the substrate while they grow and develop. When they reach 16--20mm, migrate towards inland waters (especially estuaries and final stretches of rivers), where they find refuge y food abundant to complete its youth stage.
Behavior and life cycle
the smooth lives in groups, very active in the search for food and with daily movements between the surface and shallow layers of the bottom. In warm seasons it can be carried out migrations of a certain scale, and its cycle is mostly catadromous: adults that inhabit estuarine or low-salinity environments migrate to the sea to spawn in numerous banks.
It is common to observe jumps out of the water. Among the most accepted hypotheses are the search for oxygenation In shallow waters with little dissolved oxygen, the particle shedding attached to the body or gills, and the possible facilitation of gastrointestinal transit from the material ingested during sediment filtration.
Identification and similar species
Members of Mugilidae show similar traits and can be confused. mugil cephalus Usually have fatty eyelid well developed, thin upper lip, dark spot at the base of the pectorals and lateral line absent. It can look side stripes discreet.
Among the species that are frequently called “mullet” and are confused are Chelon labrosus (with upper lip thicker and robust appearance), Liza ramada y Oedalechilus labeo (caluga). Distinguishing them requires looking at the thickness of the lips, the arrangement of the dorsal fins’s most emblematic landmarks, the head profile and details of the dentition and opercula.
Common names by region
- Captain, Mullet - Spain
- Lisa / Liza – Argentina, Chile, Spain and Peru
- Black mullet (black mullet) – Cuba
- Grey mullet – Cuba and Spain
- Striped mullet – Cuba and Mexico
- Llisa – Balearic Islands, Catalonia and Valencia (Spain)
- Muxe (headed, silty) – Galicia (Spain)
- Muil – Asturias (Spain)
- Mule / Muble – Cantabria (Spain)
- Muble / Corcón / Corrocón – Basque Country (Spain)
- albur – Province of Seville (Spain)
- Lisote / Lebrancho – Canary Islands (Spain)
Health, parasites and aquaculture
By inhabiting very diverse environments, mugil cephalus may be affected by parasites y pathogens, a question that is especially relevant in aquaculture. Among the documented parasites are protozoa cutaneous-branchial (e.g., causing white spots), monogeneans in skin and gills ( Gyrodactylus , Dactylogyrus ), trematodes digenetic ( Clinostomum , Diplostomum larvae) that can encyst in muscles or eyes, tapeworms (e.g. Ligula intestinalis ) and nematodes in internal organs. Infections are also described bacterial ( Vibrio , Aeromonas , Photobacterium ), viral (e.g., lymphocystosis) and fungal ( Saprolegnia ), which can cause everything from external lesions to sepsis; diseases such as dropsy are also relevant.
In production, good practices of management, suitable densities, water quality and protocols biosecurity reduce the incidence. In consumption, a correct cooking o freezing It is key to minimizing risks associated with parasites, as recommended for fishery products in general.
Fishing and gastronomic interest
The meat of the mullet has a variable reputation, very conditioned by the the habitat and diet of the specimen. The mullets of estuary and brackish lagoons with good water quality, where they feed on seaweed, invertebrates y plankton, they offer a meat juicy and fine flavor. On Mediterranean tables, the salted and dried roe of mullet achieve great culinary prestige: motley (Italy/Spain), karasumi (Japan), batarekh (Egypt) or East Asian preparations. In Peru, in addition to being consumed fresh and smoked preserves, it is used in cebiches; in areas of Florida and Alabama Its consumption is common fried, smoked o Baked.
It allows simple techniques that enhance its flavor: the griddle or ember with scales to protect the meat, fried in small pieces or in slices, and in marinade with traditional marinades. Its roe, in addition to being salted, can be enjoyed grated o laminated on pasta, salads or seafood dishes.
Mullet fishing (sport)
For fishermen, the mullet represents a straight due to its way of feeding (sucks and filters) and its distrust in clear waters. It is advisable to use light tackle buoy o float, fine lines (≈0,25–0,30 mm) and small hooks (No. 12–16). A landing net It is useful if you fish from docks or elevated places.
The most popular method is the eighth note, keeping the bait in mid-water or near the surface, where the schools patrol. The strategy of prime the area at regular intervals, in the manner of inland water fishing. As for baits effective: pan (in crust or kneaded), putty homemade flour/water/sugar/oil, pieces of fish o viscera (e.g., heart), marine worms And small strips of meat. Useful tip: use Food colorings or shiny particles to give visibility to the bait in murky waters, attracting its attention.
When biting, the mullet rarely bites hard: suck the bait, so it is advisable to wait until you notice a constant tension and stab gently. In the fight, alternate collected and released to tire her out without breaking the bass. The best moments are usually concentrated in dawn, sunset y nocturnal of calm waters.
In the commercial field, mullet frequently appears in local markets and, depending on the season and origin, its price is affordableAs with all fish, the freshness It is crucial to enjoy its best texture and aromas.
With all the above, the mullet is a fish extraordinarily adaptable, with a resilient physiology, gregarious behavior, a versatile diet, and great interest for nature enthusiasts, fishing enthusiasts, responsible aquaculture enthusiasts, and traditional and creative seafood cuisine.
