Mugil trichodon
Fantail Mullet
Collection Details
Specimens
Photos
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Records
Taxonomic Hierarchy
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned Fishes)
Mugiliformes
Mugilidae (Mullets)
Mugil
Mugil trichodon (Fantail Mullet)
Description
This species account was compiled from
Composite (multiple sources) (McEachran, J.D. and J.D. Fechhelm. Fishes of the Gulf of Mexico. University of Texas Press, Austin.)
and processed using AI-assisted text extraction.
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Characters
Subcylindrical and slightly compressed anteriorly, with adipose eyelids, scales densely covering second dorsal fin and anal fin, and a broadly forked caudal fin. Snout is rather narrow and pointed, with upper and lower profiles about equally oblique. Upper lip is relatively thick. Symphysis of lower jaw is notched. Adipose eyelid covers eye except for elliptical area over pupil. Jaw teeth are wide-set and relatively large. Head length is 23.8% to 29% and body is 26.2% to 29.6% of SL. Interorbital width is convex and about 40% of head length. Appressed pectoral fin reaches only about one-half distance to origin of first dorsal fin and has 16 rays. Origin of first dorsal fin is equidistant between tip of snout and caudal fin base. Second dorsal fin has one spine and 7 or 8 rays. Anal fin has three spines and 8 rays (juveniles have two spines and 9 rays). Lateral scale rows number 32 to 36.
Dusky olive with bluish reflections dorsally, and silvery ventrally and on lower side. Anal and pelvic fins are pale or light yellow; other fins are dusky. Caudal fin has dusky margin. Pectoral fin has bluish spot at base.
Distribution
Western Atlantic from Bermuda and Florida to central Brazil, including the eastern Gulf of Mexico
Habitat Associations
Freshwater, brackish, marine. pelagic-neritic. Found in: estuaries.
Biology
Maximum known size is 25 cm TL
Occur in coastal water, brackish lagoons and lower reaches of rivers (sometimes in freshwater) (Ref. 3791). Feed on small algae and other organic matter (Ref. 3791). Oviparous, eggs are pelagic and non-adhesive (Ref. 205).
Reproductive mode: dioecism; fertilization: external; nonguarders (open water/substratum egg scatterers); parental care: none.
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC), assessed 2018-12-21. Resilience: Medium (K=0.1; tm=2).
Phylogeny and Morphologically Similar Fishes
Distinguished from the other species of the family by the combination of characters described
Commercial or Environmental Importance
Fisheries: subsistence fisheries.
References
Jordan and Evermann 1896
Bohlke and Chaplin 1968
Castro-Aguirre 1978
Rivas 1980
Cervigon 1993a,b
Breder, C.M. and D.E. Rosen (1966) Modes of reproduction in fishes. T.F.H. Publications, Neptune City, New Jersey. 941 p.
Thomson, J.M. (1978) Mugilidae. In W. Fischer (ed.) FAO species identification sheets for fishery purposes. Western Central Atlantic (Fishing Area 31). Vol. 3. [pag. var.]. FAO, Rome.
Robins, C.R. and G.C. Ray (1986) A field guide to Atlantic coast fishes of North America. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, U.S.A. 354 p.
Cervigón, F. (1993) Los peces marinos de Venezuela. Volume 2. Fundación Científica Los Roques, Caracas,Venezuela. 497 p.
Patzner, R.A. (2008) Reproductive strategies of fish. pp. 311-350. In Rocha, M.J., A. Arukwe and B.G. Kapoor (eds). Fish reproduction: cytology, biology and ecology. Science Publisher, Inc. Oxford. 631 p.
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