Mullus surmuletus Linnaeus, 1758
Surmullet
Mullus surmuletus
photo by Patzner, R.

Family:  Mullidae (Goatfishes)
Max. size:  40 cm SL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 1,000.0 g; max. reported age: 11 years
Environment:  demersal; marine; depth range 5 - 409 m, oceanodromous
Distribution:  Eastern Atlantic: Western Norway, English Channel (rare in North Sea) to Dakar, Senegal and the Canary Islands, including the Mediterranean and the Black Sea.
Diagnosis:  Head is less steep. Barbels longer than pectoral fin. Body with longitudinal red and brown stripes. First dorsal fin with dark markings (Ref. 35388).
Biology:  Adults occur on broken and rough grounds but also found over sand and soft bottoms at depths less than 100 m. Depth range from 5-60 m (Ref. 07313) and from 305-409 m in the eastern Ionian Sea (Ref. 56504). Feed on benthic organisms such as shrimps and amphipods, polychaetes, mollusks, and benthic fishes. Spawning occurs from May to July, eggs and larvae are pelagic (Ref. 4845). Marketed fresh and frozen for steaming, pan-frying, broiling and baking (Ref. 9988).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 14 July 2014 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless
Country info:   
 


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