saltwater
Striped Mullet
Mugil cephalus
Torpedo-shaped, robust body with a broad, flat head and a small, terminal mouth. Features distinct dark horizontal stripes along its flanks and large scales. Coloration is typically olive-green dorsally, shading to silver on the sides and white on the belly. Fins are small, with widely separated dorsal fins.
- Habitat
- Found worldwide in coastal tropical, subtropical, and te…
- Size & weight
- Typical size ranges from 30 to 50 cm in length, with a m…
- Diet
- Feeds primarily on detritus, microalgae, benthic diatoms…
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Physical characteristics
Torpedo-shaped, robust body with a broad, flat head and a small, terminal mouth. Features distinct dark horizontal stripes along its flanks and large scales. Coloration is typically olive-green dorsally, shading to silver on the sides and white on the belly. Fins are small, with widely separated dorsal fins.
Habitat & distribution
Found worldwide in coastal tropical, subtropical, and temperate waters. Inhabits shallow coastal waters, estuaries, lagoons, and sometimes enters rivers and freshwater streams. Highly adaptable to varying salinity and temperature.
Behavior
Highly gregarious, forming large schools in coastal waters and estuaries. Known for their characteristic habit of leaping entirely out of the water, a behavior whose exact purpose is still debated.
Diet
Feeds primarily on detritus, microalgae, benthic diatoms, and small invertebrates by ingesting surface layers of sediment and filtering organic matter.
Reproduction
Catadromous or marine spawners that migrate offshore in large aggregations during the autumn and winter months to spawn in deep, high-salinity marine waters. Eggs are pelagic.
Ecological role
Serves as an important link in coastal food webs, transferring energy from lower trophic levels (detritus and algae) to higher-level carnivorous predators like larger fish, birds, and marine mammals.
Similar species
White mullet (Mugil curema) and other mullet species. Distinguished by scale count, pectoral fin length, and subtle variations in stripe patterns and body proportions.
Identification tips
Look for the broad, flat head, two widely separated dorsal fins, silvery sides with dark horizontal stripes, and the absence of a lateral line.
Interesting facts
Striped mullet are famously known for their sudden, synchronized leaping behavior above the water surface, which may help them evade predators or take in oxygen-rich air during low-oxygen conditions.