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Keeled mullet (Liza carinata) — Mugilidae

Keeled mullet

Liza carinata
Family: Mugilidae
NativeIntroduced

The Keeled mullet (Liza carinata) is a fish of the family Mugilidae that grows up to 20 cm.

Length
20 cm
Diet
Omnivore
Behaviour
Large groups
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Range
Indo-West Pacific and Red Sea; coastal waters, lagoons and estuaries.
Edibility
Commonly eaten

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Description

The keeled mullet is a mullet (Mugilidae) from the Indo-West Pacific and the Red Sea. The species grows to about 20 cm and has a streamlined, silvery body with a dorsal keel along the second dorsal fin, to which the name refers. It lives in schools in shallow coastal waters, lagoons and estuaries and tolerates strongly varying salinities. With its inferior mouth it scrapes and sifts detritus, diatoms, algae and small bottom animals from the sediment. It is a local food fish. The species is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Keeled mullet?

The Keeled mullet is mainly silver-grey and shows a plain pattern. Dorsal keel along the second dorsal fin; detritus-eating schooling fish that tolerates varying salinity.

Where does the Keeled mullet live?

The Keeled mullet is mostly found around sand or mud bottom. Indo-West Pacific and Red Sea; coastal waters, lagoons and estuaries.

How big does the Keeled mullet get?

The Keeled mullet grows to a maximum of about 20 cm.

Is the Keeled mullet dangerous to humans?

No, the Keeled mullet is harmless to humans. None required: this species is harmless to humans.

Is the Keeled mullet edible?

Yes, the Keeled mullet is commonly eaten.

More photos

Keeled mullet (Liza carinata) — Mugilidae — 2
iNaturalist ((c) Maya Mizrahi, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Fin

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All data

Identification

English name
Keeled mullet sourced
Scientific name
Liza carinata
Family
Mugilidae

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
20.0 sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey inferred
Pattern
Plain inferred
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Mouth position
Inferior (downward) inferred
Lips
Thin inferred
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
Two separate inferred
Dorsal spines
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Natural range
Indo-West Pacific and Red Sea; coastal waters, lagoons and estuaries. inferred
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Omnivore sourced
Diet (detail)
Detritus, diatoms, algae and small benthic animals sourced
Social behaviour
Large groups inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known. inferred
Special features
Dorsal keel along the second dorsal fin; detritus-eating schooling fish that tolerates varying salinity. sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten sourced
Fishing method
Bottom fishing with natural bait (worm, shrimp or fish) on or just above the seabed. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced
First aid
None required: this species is harmless to humans. sourced

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Liza

More from the family Mugilidae

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