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Big-eye mullet (Paramugil parmatus) — Mugilidae

Big-eye mullet

Paramugil parmatus
Family: Mugilidae
LC · Least Concern

The Big-eye mullet (Paramugil parmatus) is a fish that lives in both fresh and salt water of the family Mugilidae that grows up to 30 cm.

Length
30 cm
Water
Euryhaline
Diet
Omnivore
Behaviour
Schooling
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Rarely eaten

Description

The broad-mouthed mullet is a mullet (Mugilidae) from the Indo-West Pacific. The species reaches about 30 cm, has a streamlined, silvery-grey body with large eyes and two separate dorsal fins. It is euryhaline and occurs in the sea, in estuaries and in the lower reaches of rivers. Like other mullets the fish grazes detritus, algae and small bottom organisms from the substrate and mud. Reproduction is by pelagic, non-adhesive eggs. The species tolerates strongly varying salinities and is a typical inhabitant of turbid coastal waters.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Big-eye mullet?

The Big-eye mullet has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly silver-grey and shows a plain pattern.

Where does the Big-eye mullet live?

The Big-eye mullet lives in both fresh and salt water and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Big-eye mullet get?

The Big-eye mullet grows to a maximum of about 30 cm. On average the species is around 20 cm.

Is the Big-eye mullet dangerous to humans?

No, the Big-eye mullet is harmless to humans.

Is the Big-eye mullet edible?

The Big-eye mullet is rarely eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Grootoog-harder sourced
English name
Big-eye mullet verified
Scientific name
Paramugil parmatus
Family
Mugilidae
Other names
Broad-mouthed mullet; Grey Mullet; Large-scaled mullet verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
30.0 verified
Average length (cm)
20.0 verified
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
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Omnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Schooling inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Rarely eaten sourced
Fishing method
Bodemvissen met natuurlijk aas (worm, garnaal of vis) op of vlak boven de bodem. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced

Status & sources

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

More from the family Mugilidae

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