Mullet (fish)


The mullets or grey mullets are a family of ray-finned fish found worldwide in coastal temperate and tropical waters, and some species in fresh water. Mullets have served as an important source of food in Mediterranean Europe since Roman times. In ancient Egypt, people ate pickled and dried mullet called fesikh. The family includes about 78 species in 26 genera.
Mullets are distinguished by the presence of two separate dorsal fins, small triangular mouths, and the absence of a lateral line organ. They feed on detritus, and most species have unusually muscular stomachs and a complex pharynx to help in digestion.

Classification and naming

Taxonomically, the family is placed in the order Mugiliformes, which is named after it. Until recently, it was considered the only member of Mugiliformes, but more recent taxonomic treatments suggest that they are closely related to the Asiatic glassfishes, which are now also placed in the group. The presence of fin spines clearly indicates membership in the superorder Acanthopterygii, and in the 1960s, they were classed as primitive perciforms, while others have grouped them in Atheriniformes.
In North America, "mullet" by itself usually refers to Mugilidae. In Europe, the word "mullet" is usually qualified, the "grey mullets" being Mugilidae and the "red mullets" or "surmullets" being Mullidae, notably members of the genus Mullus. Outside Europe, the Mullidae are often called "goatfish". Fish with common names including the word "mullet" may be a member of one family or the other, or even unrelated such as the freshwater Catostomus commersonii.
However, recent taxonomic work has reorganised the family and the following genera make up the Mugilidae:Agonostomus Bennett, 1832Aldrichetta Whitley, 1945Cestraeus Valenciennes, 1836Chaenomugil Gill, 1863Chelon Artedi, 1763Crenimugil Schultz, 1946Dajaus Valenciennes, 1836Ellochelon Whitley, 1930Gracilimugil Whitley, 1941Joturus Poey, 1860Minimugil Durand, Chen, Shen, Fu & Borsa, 2012Mugil Linnaeus, 1758Myxus Günther, 1861Neomyxus Steindachner, 1878Neochelon Durand, Chen, Shen, Fu & Borsa 2012Oedalechilus Fowler 1903Osteomugil G. Luther, 1982Parachelon Durand, Chen, Shen, Fu & Borsa 2012Paramugil Ghasemzadeh, Ivantsoff & Aarn 2004Planiliza Whitley, 1945Plicomugil Schultz, 1953Pseudomyxus Durand, Chen, Shen, Fu & Borsa 2012Rhinomugil Gill, 1863Sicamugil Fowler, 1939Squalomugil Ogilby, 1908Trachystoma Ogilby, 1888
The oldest known fossil mullet is †Mugil princeps from the latest Oligocene-aged Aix-en-Provence Formation of France.

Behaviour

A common noticeable behaviour in mullet is the tendency to leap out of the water. There are two distinguishable types of leaps: a straight, clean slice out of the water to escape predators and a slower, lower jump while turning to its side that results in a larger, more distinguishable, splash. The reasons for this lower jump are disputed, but have been hypothesised to be in order to gain oxygen rich air for gas exchange in a small organ above the pharynx.

Development

The ontogeny of mugilid larvae has been well studied, with the larval development of Mugil cephalus in particular being studied intensively due to its wide range of distribution and interest to aquaculture. The previously understudied osteological development of Mugil cephalus was investigated in a 2021 study, with four embryonic and six larval developmental steps being described in aquaculture-reared and wild-caught specimens. These descriptions provided clarification of questionable characters of adult mullets and revealed informative details with potential implications for phylogenetic hypotheses, as well as providing an overdue basis of comparison for aquaculture-reared mullets to enable recognition of malformations.

History

Mullet have historical significance globally, with record of consumption in ancient Rome and Egypt. Indigenous communities in Florida, Hawaii, and North Carolina also fished and consumed the fish from as far back as the 15th century. Early American commercial fishers in the 19th century dismissed mullet as a "trash fish" due to its low market value, and the fish fell out of fashion. In the 1960s, Florida state officials attempted to revive mullet through a marketing campaign to rename mullet as "lisa."

Further references

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