| Family: |
Mugilidae (Mullets) |
| Max. size: |
100 cm TL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
pelagic-neritic; freshwater; brackish; marine; depth range 0 - 10 m, catadromous |
| Distribution: |
Indo-Pacific: from South Africa through parts of Indonesia to parts of Micronesia and Melanesia; north to the Mariana Islands and southern Japan (Ref. 9812). |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 5-5; Dorsal soft rays (total): 8-8; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 9-9. Description: No adipose eyelids; lower margin preorbital slightly bent, not or slightly notched, end truncate, lower and rear edge serrate, scaly (Ref. 4393). Very young with minute villiform teeth in single row in jaws; none visible in older specimens; palatines and vomer edentate, pterygoids and tongue with teeth (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 17-18 rays; pectoral fin folded forward reaches beyond eye (Ref. 4393). Scales on lateral line 32-36; scaly process at first dorsal-fin base; 4.0-4.5 in predorsal distance; pectoral axillary scale 2.8-5.2 times in head length (Ref. 4393, 4967). Colouration: Characterised by the brilliant blue tail (Ref. 4393). This species is greenish dorsally; flanks and abdomen are silvery; small gold patch on upper operculum and iris; caudal fin bright blue and pectoral fins yellow with dark blue spot dorsally at origin (Ref. 9812). |
| Biology: |
Found in coastal waters, including estuaries and rivers (Ref. 5213). Young fish frequent estuaries and also ascend rivers and coastal creeks (Ref. 2847). It feeds on algae, diatoms, detritus, and crustaceans (Ref. 9812). Oviparous, eggs are pelagic and non-adhesive (Ref. 205). Caught during the spawning period (Ref. 9812). Other methods include the use of stakenets, pouch nets, and barrier nets (Ref. 9812). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 12 February 2017 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
| Country info: |
The Philippine population is probably an undescribed new species (J.T. Williams, pers. comm, 12/2018). |
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