Home · Mugilidae · Mountain mullet
Mountain mullet (Agonostomus monticola) — Mugilidae

Mountain mullet

Agonostomus monticola
Family: Mugilidae
LC · Least Concern

The Mountain mullet (Agonostomus monticola) is a fish that lives in both fresh and salt water of the family Mugilidae that grows up to 36 cm.

Length
36 cm
Water
Euryhaline
Diet
Omnivore
Behaviour
Small groups
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Mixed bottom
Danger
Harmless
Range
Western Atlantic and adjacent fresh water, from North Carolina and Texas to Venezuela, including the West Indies; migrates far inland and lives in fresh water as an adult.
Edibility
Commonly eaten

Want the complete picture on the Mountain mullet?

Get the app

Description

The mountain mullet is a mullet (family Mugilidae) of the western Atlantic and adjacent fresh water. The species grows to about 36 cm and has a streamlined, silvery body. It is unusual among mullets: it is the only one that ascends far inland and spends its adult life in clear mountain rivers, migrating to the sea to spawn (catadromous). Its diet consists of insects, small crustaceans, algae and detritus. The species is caught and eaten in parts of Central America and is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Mountain mullet?

The Mountain mullet has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly silver-grey and shows a plain pattern. Catadromous mullet that lives in clear mountain rivers as an adult and migrates to the sea to spawn.

Where does the Mountain mullet live?

The Mountain mullet lives in both fresh and salt water and is mostly found around mixed bottom. Western Atlantic and adjacent fresh water, from North Carolina and Texas to Venezuela, including the West Indies; migrates far inland and lives in fresh water as an adult.

How big does the Mountain mullet get?

The Mountain mullet grows to a maximum of about 36 cm.

Is the Mountain mullet dangerous to humans?

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

Is the Mountain mullet edible?

Yes, the Mountain mullet is commonly eaten.

More photos

Mountain mullet (Agonostomus monticola) — Mugilidae — 2
iNaturalist ((c) Bradley Rasmussen, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Mountain mullet (Agonostomus monticola) — Mugilidae — 3
iNaturalist ((c) IHUNTA, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Mountain mullet (Agonostomus monticola) — Mugilidae — 4
MAEL ANDRIEUX (CC BY-NC 4.0) via GBIF — iNaturalist
Mountain mullet (Agonostomus monticola) — Mugilidae — 5
iNaturalist ((c) Cameron Layne, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Fin

Want the complete picture on the Mountain mullet?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Mountain mullet is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Get the app →

All data

Identification

English name
Mountain mullet sourced
Scientific name
Agonostomus monticola
Family
Mugilidae
Other names
Freshwater mullet

Appearance

Size class
Medium
Max length (cm)
36.0 sourced
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey inferred
Pattern
Plain inferred
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Mouth position
Terminal inferred
Lips
Thin inferred
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
Two separate inferred
Dorsal spines
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Euryhaline sourced
Substrate
Mixed bottom sourced
Natural range
Western Atlantic and adjacent fresh water, from North Carolina and Texas to Venezuela, including the West Indies; migrates far inland and lives in fresh water as an adult. inferred
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Omnivore sourced
Diet (detail)
Insects, small crustaceans, algae and detritus sourced
Social behaviour
Small groups inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Diurnal inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known. inferred
Special features
Catadromous mullet that lives in clear mountain rivers as an adult and migrates to the sea to spawn. sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten sourced
Fishing method
Fishing with natural bait or small lures in clear mountain rivers. sourced
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 Agonostomus

Fairy mullet (Agonostomus telfairii) — Mugilidae
Fairy mullet
Agonostomus telfairii
Mugilidae
 Madagascar mountain mullet (Agonostomus catalai) — Mugilidae
Madagascar mountain mullet
Agonostomus catalai
Mugilidae

More from the family Mugilidae

Common mullet (Mugil incilis) — Mugilidae
Common mullet
Mugil incilis
Mugilidae
 Abu mullet (Liza abu) — Mugilidae
Abu mullet
Liza abu
Mugilidae
 Banana mullet (Mugil bananensis) — Mugilidae
Banana mullet
Mugil bananensis
Mugilidae
 Bluetail mullet (Valamugil buchanani) — Mugilidae
Bluetail mullet
Valamugil buchanani
Mugilidae
 Bluespot mullet (Moolgarda seheli) — Mugilidae
Bluespot mullet
Moolgarda seheli
Mugilidae
 Bobo mullet (Joturus pichardi) — Mugilidae
Bobo mullet
Joturus pichardi
Mugilidae
 Corsula mullet (Rhinomugil corsula) — Mugilidae
Corsula mullet
Rhinomugil corsula
Mugilidae
 Hornlip mullet (Oedalechilus labiosus) — Mugilidae
Hornlip mullet
Oedalechilus labiosus
Mugilidae
Fin

Want the complete picture on the Mountain mullet?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Mountain mullet is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Get the app →
Is this the Mountain mullet? Get the app