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Otomebora mullet (Chelon melinopterus) — Mugilidae

Otomebora mullet

Chelon melinopterus
Family: Mugilidae

The Otomebora mullet (Chelon melinopterus) is a fish of the family Mugilidae that grows up to 30 cm.

Length
30 cm
Diet
Omnivore
Behaviour
Schooling
Activity
Diurnal
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Range
Indo-West Pacific
Edibility
Commonly eaten

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Description

The otomebora mullet is a mullet (Mugilidae) from coastal and brackish water of the Indo-West Pacific. The species grows to about 30 cm and has a streamlined, silvery body with a dark spot at the pectoral-fin base. As a bottom-oriented detritivore it swims in schools over sand and mud bottoms of coastal water, estuaries and mangroves and takes mouthfuls of sediment, sieving out algae, diatoms and organic matter. It is a food fish. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Otomebora mullet?

The Otomebora mullet is mainly silver-grey and shows a plain pattern. Dark pectoral fin blotch; schooling sediment-sifting mullet

Where does the Otomebora mullet live?

The Otomebora mullet is mostly found around sand or mud bottom. Indo-West Pacific

How big does the Otomebora mullet get?

The Otomebora mullet grows to a maximum of about 30 cm. On average the species is around 18 cm.

Is the Otomebora mullet dangerous to humans?

No, the Otomebora mullet is harmless to humans. This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status.

Is the Otomebora mullet edible?

Yes, the Otomebora mullet is commonly eaten.

More photos

Otomebora mullet (Chelon melinopterus) — Mugilidae — 2
Williams, Jeffrey T. (CC0 1.0) via GBIF — USNM
Otomebora mullet (Chelon melinopterus) — Mugilidae — 3
iNaturalist ((c) Aiman Azmi, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA))
Otomebora mullet (Chelon melinopterus) — Mugilidae — 4
Trevor Harrison (CC BY 4.0) via GBIF — SAIAB
Otomebora mullet (Chelon melinopterus) — Mugilidae — 5
Trevor Harrison (CC BY 4.0) via GBIF — SAIAB
Fin

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All data

Identification

English name
Otomebora mullet sourced
Scientific name
Chelon melinopterus
Family
Mugilidae
Other names
Blackfin mullet; Giantscale mullet; Mullet; St. Lucia mullet; Cream mullet; Giant-scaled mullet; Saint Lucia Mullet sourced

Appearance

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

Habitat & distribution

Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Natural range
Indo-West Pacific sourced
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Omnivore sourced
Diet (detail)
Algae, diatoms and detritus inferred
Social behaviour
Schooling sourced
Territorial
No sourced
Activity
Diurnal sourced
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No sourced
Seasonality
Schooling coastal and estuarine mullet; present year-round. sourced
Special features
Dark pectoral fin blotch; schooling sediment-sifting mullet sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten sourced
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified
First aid
This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status. verified

Status & sources

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

Same genus Chelon

More from the family Mugilidae

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