The Mullet Family – Mugilidae

There are currently FIVE members of the Mullet or Mugilidae Family, two from the Pacific Ocean and three from both the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean, are presented in this website:

FROM THE PACIFIC (2):

FROM THE ATLANTIC AND THE PACIFIC (3):

The Mullets belong to the Mugilidae Family includes seventy-two global species that have been placed into seventeen genera. In Mexican waters three species are found in the Atlantic Ocean, five in the Pacific Ocean, and two in both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. They are known in Mexico’s fishing areas as lisas.

The Mullet is a medium to large fish, the largest reaching a maximum length of 1.6 m (5 feet 3 inches). They are generally silvery and have elongated bodies. Most have broad flattened heads, eyes partially covered with a transparent fatty eyelid, and small terminal mouths that open in the front and are equipped with small or nonexistent teeth. Their caudal fins are concave or weakly forked; their 2 dorsal fins are widely spaced with short bases, the first having 4 slender spines; and, their pectoral fins are high on the body and their pelvic fins originate after the pectoral fin base. They are covered with large scales and have do not have a lateral line.

The Mullets are found in all tropical and temperate seas near shore and many enter brackish estuaries and freshwater. They travel in large schools of up to several hundred individuals. They consume algae, detritus, fish eggs, insects, and plankton. Reproduction is oviparous with eggs fertilized externally by males. Eggs and larvae are pelagic. The Mullets, in general, are poorly studied with very limited information available about their lifestyle and behavioral patterns including specific details on age, growth, longevity, movement patterns, diet, habitat use, and reproduction.

The Mullets are considered to be an excellent food fish and sold commercially. In Southeast Asia they are grown via aquaculture. They date to the Middle-Miocene period, 16,000,000 years ago.