Grey mullet, also known simply as mullet, are a group of fish species belonging to the family Mugilidae. They are characterized by their elongated bodies, forked tails, and usually silver-gray coloration. Grey mullet are found in both saltwater and freshwater habitats worldwide, often inhabiting estuaries, coastal waters, and rivers. They are omnivorous, feeding on a variety of plant matter, algae, and small invertebrates. Grey mullet are economically important in many regions, both as a target for commercial fishing and as a popular catch for recreational anglers. Additionally, they play a role in maintaining the health of aquatic ecosystems through their feeding habits.

1. GREY
MULLET
FISH

2. UNIVERSITY OF CHAKWAL
PRESENTED BY : JAVERIA KIRAN
PRESENTEDTO : DR. NADIA AHMED
SUBJECT : ICHTHYOLOGY
REGISTERATION NUMBER :20M-UOC/ZOL-19
DATE : 6TH APRIL,2024

3. GREY MULLET FISH
• Scientific Name: Mugil cephalus
• Elongated, silver-grey body with a protrudinglower jaw, small pointed head, and
streamlined shape.
• Found in coastal and estuarine waters worldwide, tolerating a wide range of salinity
levels .
• Omnivorous,feedingon algae, plankton, small invertebrates, and detritus.( Crosetti
et al ., 2016)

4. CLASSIFICATION:
• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Chordata
• Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
• Order: Mugiliformes
• Family: Mugilidae (Mullets)
• Genus: Mugil
• Species: Mugil cephalus

5. PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION
• Elongated, silver-grey body
• Protruding lower jaw
• Small pointed head
• Streamlined shape for efficient swimming
(Ghasemzadeh et al., 2015)
Figure: grey mullet
(https://images.app.goo.gl/BRFvHC
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6. DISTRIBUTION
• Grey mullet are distributed worldwide in temperate and tropical waters.
• found in coastal marine and estuarine waters, often in areas with sandy or muddy bottoms.
• along the coastlines of North America, Europe,and Africa in the Atlantic Ocean.
• They are common in the Mediterranean Sea and its connected water bodies
• Grey mullet are also found in the Indo-Pacific region, including waters around Australia, Asia, and
the Pacific Islands . (Cardona et al., 2006)

7. IMPORTANCE
• Grey mullet help maintain ecosystem balance by consuming
organic matter and contributing to nutrient cycling.
• They are commercially important worldwide for human
consumption and aquaculture.
• Grey mullet are culturally significant in coastal communities and
valued for their culinary uses.
• Changes in grey mullet populations can indicate environmental
health and water quality. (Cardona et al., 2006)
Figure: grey mullet as food
consumption by human being
(https://images.app.goo.gl/HFYhF8d
dpgekMzJF7)

8. INTERESTING FACTS
• Grey mullet can thrive in both saltwater and freshwaterenvironments,
showcasing remarkable adaptability. (Reference: Brito et al., 2020)
• They primarily feed on algae and plant matter, using specialized teeth for
scraping
• They are considered bioindicators,as their presenceor absence can indicate
the health of coastal ecosystems . ( Crosetti et al., 2019)

9. MORPHOLOGY OF GREY MULLET
• Body Shape: Grey mullet typically have elongated, cylindrical bodies with slightly
flattened sides.
• Coloration: They are often grey or silver in color, sometimes with darker patches or
stripes along their sides.
• Fins: Grey mullet havea dorsal fin located along the back, a ventral fin on the underside,
and a caudal fin (tail fin) that is deeply forked, aiding in propulsion.
• Mouth and Teeth: They have a small, terminal mouth with thick lips . (Ghasemzadeh et
al., 2015)

10. • Eyes: Their eyes are typically located high on the sides of
their heads
• Scales: Grey mullet have cycloid scales, which are
smooth and overlapping.
• Gill Covers: Like many fish, grey mullet have opercula,
which are bony plates coveringtheir gills and aiding in
respiration.
• Swim Bladder: an internal gas-filled organ that helps
them control buoyancy and maintain position in the
water column . ( Ghasemzadeh et al., 2015)
Figure: grey mullet
(https://images.app.goo.gl/SwR422
YNjQc7Y1xE9)

11. PARENTAL BEHAVIOR:
• Gathering in specific areas like estuaries or coastal zones.
• Females release eggs into the water column
• where they are externally fertilized by males.
• The eggs are usually adhesive and may attach to substrates or drift with the currents.
• After spawning, grey mullet parents typically providelittle to no parental care.
• The eggs and larvae develop independently in the water column . (Patil et al., 2022).

12. MIGRATORY BEHAVIOR:
• moving between estuaries, freshwaterrivers,and marine environments.
• These migrations often occur seasonally
• influenced by factors such as temperature, salinity, food availability, and reproductivecycles.
• During the breedingseason, grey mullets migrate to specific areas . (Colin et al., 2020)

13. REFRENCES
• Patil, P., Kailasm, M., Sukumaran, K.,Thomas, D., & Hussain,T. (2022). Present status of grey mullet Mugil
cephalus farming. RECENT ADVANCES IN HATCHERY SEED PRODUCTION AND FARMING OF
MILKFISH, 70.
• Colín,A., Hernández-Pérez, Z., Guevara-Chumacero, L. M., Castañeda-Rico, S., Serrato-Díaz, A., & Ibáñez,A.
L. (2020). Are striped mullet (Mugil cephalus) philopatric?. Marine Biology, 167, 1-15.
• Crosetti, D. (2016). Current state of grey mullet fisheries and culture. Biology, ecology and culture of grey
mullet (Mugilidae), 388-450.
• Ghasemzadeh, J., Crosetti, D., & Blaber, S. J. (2015). Musculoskeletal anatomy of the flathead grey mullet
Mugil cephalus. Biology, ecology and culture of grey mullets (Mugilidae), 128-164.
• Cardona, L. (2006). Habitat selection by grey mullets (Osteichthyes: Mugilidae) in Mediterranean estuaries:
the role of salinity. Scientia Marina, 70(3), 443-455.