Species learning profile
Flathead grey mullet
Mugil cephalus
Flathead grey mullet (Mugil cephalus) is a brackish fish associated with estuary habitat in Global. A muscular stomach grinds algae-rich sediment much like a bird's gizzard.
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At a glance
- Eau
- Eau saumâtre
- Habitat
- Estuaire
- Longueur maximale
- 100 cm
- Répartition
- Monde entier
- Famille
- Mugilidae
- Ordre
- Mugiliformes
Observe
How to identify Flathead grey mullet
- A muscular stomach grinds algae-rich sediment much like a bird's gizzard.
- Guide context: estuary habitat in Global.
- Reported maximum length: 100 cm — up to about the length of a guitar. Maximum is not the same as typical adult size.
Field note: color, size, and markings can change with age, sex, season, depth, and lighting. Use several traits together.
Place and pattern
Where it lives—and how it behaves
Habitat and range
This species is associated with estuary habitat across Global. Tides mix fresh and salt water here, and sheltered shallows often serve as productive nursery habitat.
Behavior
Schools across estuaries and coastal shallows
Food-web connections
What it eats and why it matters
Diet
Algae, detritus, and tiny organisms.
Ecological role
Recycles detritus and moves nutrients through estuaries.
Remember
One fact worth keeping
Flathead grey mullet peut atteindre environ 100 cm et vit souvent près de Estuaire.
Think like a conservationist
A conservation lens
Estuaries are vulnerable to shoreline loss, polluted runoff, dredging, and barriers between nursery and adult habitat.
This habitat lens is not a current population-status assessment. Status can differ among regions and change as new assessments are published; follow the reference links and local fisheries or wildlife agencies for current decisions.
Recall
Quick knowledge check
Which habitat is most closely associated with Flathead grey mullet in this guide?
Keep exploring
References and further reading
Fishdle summarizes stable identification and ecology concepts in plain language. Taxonomy and population knowledge continue to change, so use primary assessments and regional authorities for conservation or management decisions.
Make connections