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Trees- ShrubsStriped Red Mullet (Mullus surmuletus)
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Mullus surmuletus is considered a very important commercial fish (1) and is subject to high fishing pressure (2). M. surmuletus is very similar to M. barbatus, however there are a few characteristics with which they can be told apart. M. surmuletus has an elongate body shape, with two distinct dorsal fins, the first of which has yellow (1), or darker (3) markings. The head profile of M. surmuletus is not as steep as that of M. barbatus (3). Longitudinal red and brown stripes are present on sides (4). The pair of barbels under the chin are longer than the pectoral fins (1).
The red striped mullet prefers sandy and rocky habitats (6), although they can also be found in Posidonia oceanica (2) at depths no greater than 100m, typically found between 5-60m (7).
M. surmuletus spawns between February and July (1; 5). Both eggs and larvae are planktonic (1).
M. surmuletus are found throughout the Mediterranean and Black Seas, including the contiguous Atlantic area, from the North Sea to Senegal (1; 2).
The striped red mullet occurs in small schools and are most often seen probing the sediment for food with their barbels (1).
M. surmuletus diet mainly consists of benthic crustaceans, such as amphipods and crabs, however cephalopods have been found in the stomach contents of individuals over 16cm (8).
Not Evaluated under the IUCN Redlist (9)
Description written by Sarah Marjoram (2009)
(1) Golani, D..B.O.a.N.B., 2006. Fishes of the Eastern Mediterranean. Istanbul, Turkey: Turkish Marine Research Foundation.
(2) Tserpes, G..F.F.D.L.A.C.M.M.A.Z.a.C.P., 2002. Distribution of Mullus barbatus and M. surmuletus (Osteichthyes: Perciformes) in the mediterranean continental shelf: implications for management. 66, pp.39-54.
(3) Muus, B.J.a.J.G.N., 1999. Sea fish. Hedehusene, Denmark: Scandanavian Fishing Year Book.
(4) Barnes, M.K.S., 2008. Mullus surmuletus. Striped Red Mullet. [Online] Plymouth: Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom Available at: http://www.marlin.ac.uk/speciesinformation.php?speciesID=3832 [Accessed 13 July 2009].
(5) Hureau, J.-C., 1986. Mullidae. In P.J.P. Whitehead, M.-L.B.J.-C.H.J.N.a.E.T. Fishes of the north-eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean. Paris: UNESCO. pp.877-82.
(6) Lombarte, A.a.H.A., 1997. Quantitative differences in the chemoreceptor systems in the barbels of two species of Mullidae (Mullus surmuletus and M. barbatus) with different bottom habitats. 150, pp.57-64.
(7) Ben-Tuvia, A., 1990. Mullidae. In J.C. Quero, J.C.H.C.K.A.P.a.L.S. Check-list of the fishes of the eastern tropical Atlantic (CLOEFTA). Paris: UNESCO. pp.827-29.
(8) Labropoulou, M..A.M.N.T.a.A.E., 1997. Feeding habits and ontogenetic diet shift of the striped red mullet, Mullus surmuletus Linnaeus, 1758. Fisheries Research, 31(3), pp.257-67.
(9) IUCN, 2009. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2009.1. [Online] Available at: www.iucnredlist.org [Accessed 13 July 2009].
