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CAAB: 37381002

Species Mugil cephalus Linnaeus, 1758

Sea Mullet, Bully, Bully Mullet, Flathead Mullet, Grey Mullet, Hard-gut Mullet, Hardgut Mullet, Hardgut River Mullet, Mangrove Mullet, Poddies, Poddy Mullet, River Mullet, Sand Mullet, Striped Mullet

 

Introduction

Genetic studies have indicated that, as currently recognised, Mugil cephalus is a composite of isolated genetically distinct forms that probably should be treated as species (see Crosetti et al. 1994; Heras et al. 2009; Whitfield et al. 2012; Durand et al. 2012). Numerous names are available from the Indo-Pacific region and the precise geographical distribution of the various forms has not been resolved. Consequently it is not clear which name would apply to the Australian species. Some genetic studies have indicated that more than one species may be present in Australia (Durand et al. 2012)

 

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia


Extra Distribution Information

Horn Island, QLD (10°38´S) to Kimberley region, WA (126°35´E) and Bass Strait, TAS; tropical, temperate, circumglobal, frequently entering lower freshwater reaches of rivers.


IBRA and IMCRA regions (map not available)

IBRA

NSW, Qld, SA, Tas, Vic, WA: Brigalow Belt North (BBN), Carnarvon (CAR), Central Mackay Coast (CMC), Cape York Peninsula (CYP), Dampierland (DL), Esperance Plains (ESP), Eyre Yorke Block (EYB), Flinders Lofty Block (FLB), Flinders (FLI), Gawler (GAW), Geraldton Sandplains (GS), Jarrah Forest (JF), Kanmantoo (KAN), Murray Darling Depression (MDD), Naracoorte Coastal Plain (NCP), Northern Kimberley (NK), NSW North Coast (NNC), Pilbara (PIL), Sydney Basin (SB), South East Coastal Plain (SCP), South East Corner (SEC), South Eastern Highlands (SEH), South Eastern Queensland (SEQ), Swan Coastal Plain (SWA), Victorian Volcanic Plain (VVP), Warren (WAR), Wet Tropics (WT), Yalgoo (YAL)

IMCRA

Norfolk Island Province (21), Northwest Shelf Transition (26), Northwest Shelf Province (27), Central Western Shelf Transition (28), Central Western Shelf Province (29), Southwest Shelf Transition (30), Southwest Shelf Province (31), Great Australian Bight Shelf Transition (32), Spencer Gulf Shelf Province (33), Western Bass Strait Shelf Transition (34), Bass Strait Shelf Province (35), Southeast Shelf Transition (37), Central Eastern Shelf Province (38), Central Eastern Shelf Transition (39), Northeast Shelf Province (40), Northeast Shelf Transition (41)

Distribution References

Ecological Descriptors

Estuary, freshwater, inshore, mud bottom-marine, pelagic, sand bottom marine.

Extra Ecological Information

Predominantly estuarine and marine, but extends several kilometres inland in rivers.

 

General References

Allen, G.R. 1997. Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and South-east Asia. Perth : Western Australian Museum 292 pp. 106 pls. [176]

Allen, G.R., Midgley, S.H. & Allen, M. 2002. Field Guide to the Freshwater Fishes of Australia. Perth : Western Australian Museum 394 pp. [255]

Allen, G.R. & Swainston, R. 1988. The Marine Fishes of North-Western Australia. A field guide for anglers and divers. Perth, WA : Western Australian Museum vi 201 pp., 70 pls. [110]

Crosetti, D., Nelson, W.S. & Avise, J.C. 1994. Pronounced genetic structure of mitochondrial DNA among populations of the circumglobally distributed grey mullet (Mugil cephalus). Journal of Fish Biology 44: 47-58 figs 1-2

Durand, D., Shen, K.-N., Chen, W.-J., Jamandre, B.W., Blel, H., Diop, K., Nirchio, M., Garcia de León, F.J., Whitfield, A.K., Chang, C.-W. & Borsa, P. 2012. Systematics of the grey mullets (Teleostei: Mugiliformes: Mugilidae): Molecular phylogenetic evidence challenges two centuries of morphology-based taxonomy. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 64(1): 73-92

Gomon, M.F. 2008. Family Mugilidae. pp. 390-394 in Gomon, M.F., Bray, D.J. & Kuiter, R.H. (eds). Fishes of Australia's Southern Coast. Sydney : Reed New Holland 928 pp. [393]

Harrison, I.J. & Senou, H. 1999. Order Mugiliformes. pp. 2069-2790 in Carpenter, K.E. & Niem, T.H. (eds). The Living Marine Resources of the Western Central Pacific. FAO Species Identification Guide for Fisheries Purposes. Rome : FAO Vol. 4 pp. 2069-2790. [2096]

Heras, S., Roldán, M.I. & Castro, M.G. 2009. Molecular phylogeny of Mugilidae fishes revised. Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries 19(2): 217–231 [223]

Kailola, P.J., Williams, M.J., Stewart, P.C., Reichelt, R.E., McNee, A. & Grieve, C. 1993. Australian Fisheries Resources. Canberra : Bureau of Resource Sciences and the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation 422 pp. [330]

Kuiter, R.H. 1993. Coastal Fishes of South-eastern Australia. Bathurst : Crawford House Press 437 pp. [263]

Kuiter, R.H. 1994. Family Mugilidae. pp. 659-664, figs 578-581 in Gomon, M.F., Glover, C.J.M. & Kuiter, R.H. (eds). The Fishes of Australia's South Coast. Adelaide : State Printer 992 pp. 810 figs. [662]

Last, P.R., Scott, E.O.G. & Talbot, F.H. 1983. Fishes of Tasmania. Hobart : Tasmanian Fisheries Development Authority 563 pp. figs. [403]

McCulloch, A.R. 1929. A check-list of the fishes recorded from Australia. Part I. Memoirs of the Australian Museum 5: 1–144 [114] (also as Mugil marginalis and p. 116, as Mugil mulleri)

Merrick, J.R. & Schmida, G.E. 1984. Australian Freshwater Fishes Biology and Management. Sydney : J.R. Merrick 409 pp. figs 280 col. figs. [274]

Munro, I.S.R. 1961. Handbook of Australian fishes. Nos 1–42. Australian Fisheries Newsletter 15–17, 19, 20: 1-172 [published as separates 1956–1961] [103] (705)

Pusey, B.J., Kennard, M.J. & Arthington, A.H. 2004. Freshwater Fishes of North-eastern Australia. Collingwood, Victoria : CSIRO Publishing 684 pp. [426]

Thomson, J.M. 1954. The Mugilidae of Australia and adjacent seas. Australian Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 5(1): 70-131 figs 1-16 pls 1-2

Thomson, J.M. 1996. Family Mugilidae. pp. 191-197 in McDowall, R.M. (ed.). Freshwater Fishes of South-eastern Australia. Sydney : Reed Books 247 pp. [193]

Thomson, J.M. 1997. The Mugilidae of the world. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum 41(3): 457-562 fig. 1

Whitfield, A.K., Panfili, J. & Durand, J.-D. 2012. A global review of the cosmopolitan flathead mullet Mugil cephalus Linnaeus 1758 (Teleostei: Mugilidae), with emphasis on the biology, genetics, ecology and fisheries aspects of the apparent species complex. Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries 22: 641-681

Whitley, G.P. 1964. A survey of Australian Ichthyology. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales 89(1): 11-127 [39] (652 as Mugil dobula)

 

Common Name References

Gomon, M.F., Glover, C.J.M. & Kuiter, R.H. (eds) 1994. The Fishes of Australia's South Coast. Adelaide : State Printer 992 pp. 810 figs. [663] (juveniles) (Poddy Mullet, Striped Mullet)

Grant, E.M. 1991. Fishes of Australia. Brisbane : EM Grant Pty Ltd 480 pp. [281] (Sea Mullet)

Harrison, I.J. & Senou, H. 1999. Order Mugiliformes. pp. 2069-2790 in Carpenter, K.E. & Niem, T.H. (eds). The Living Marine Resources of the Western Central Pacific. FAO Species Identification Guide for Fisheries Purposes. Rome : FAO Vol. 4 pp. 2069-2790. [2096] (Flathead Mullet)

Hutchins, J.B. & Swainston, R. 1986. Sea Fishes of Southern Australia. Complete field guide for anglers and divers. Perth : Swainston Publishing 180 pp. [663] (Hardgut River Mullet)

Last, P.R., Scott, E.O.G. & Talbot, F.H. 1983. Fishes of Tasmania. Hobart : Tasmanian Fisheries Development Authority 563 pp. figs. [403] (Grey Mullet)

Marshall, T.C. 1964. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coastal Waters of Queensland. Sydney : Angus & Robertson 566 pp. 136 pls. [409] (Sand Mullet)

Prokop, F. 2002. Australian Fish Guide. Croydon South, Victoria : Australian Fishing Network 256 pp. [110] (Bully, Hard-gut Mullet, Poddies)

Seafood Services Australia 2008. Australian Fish Names Standard. http://www.fishnames.com.au/. (Sea Mullet)

Yearsley, G.K., Last, P.R. & Ward, R.D. (eds) 1999. Australian Seafood Handbook. Hobart : CSIRO Marine Research 460 pp. [191] (Bully Mullet, Hardgut Mullet, Mangrove Mullet, River Mullet)

 

History of changes

Note that this list may be incomplete for dates prior to September 2013.
Published As part of group Action Date Action Type Compiler(s)
13-Apr-2015 MUGILIFORMES 20-May-2014 MODIFIED Dr Doug Hoese
21-Nov-2011 MODIFIED