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Sharpnose mountain mullet (Cestraeus oxyrhyncus) — Mugilidae

Sharpnose mountain mullet

Cestraeus oxyrhyncus
Family: Mugilidae

The Sharpnose mountain mullet (Cestraeus oxyrhyncus) is a brackish-water fish of the family Mugilidae that grows up to 39 cm.

Length
39 cm
Water
Brackish
Depth
0–2.0 m
Behaviour
Schooling
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Rarely eaten

Description

The Sharpnose mountain mullet is a mountain mullet (Mugilidae) from fast-flowing fresh water of island rivers of the Indo-West Pacific. The species grows to about 30 cm and has a streamlined, silver-grey body with a pointed snout and a small mouth. Unlike most mullets it lives in clear, rocky upper reaches, where it scrapes algae, biofilm, insect larvae and detritus; to spawn it migrates to the river mouth. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Sharpnose mountain mullet?

The Sharpnose mountain mullet has a torpedo-shaped body and is mainly silver-grey.

Where does the Sharpnose mountain mullet live?

The Sharpnose mountain mullet lives in brackish water and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground.

How big does the Sharpnose mountain mullet get?

The Sharpnose mountain mullet grows to a maximum of about 39 cm. On average the species is around 20 cm.

Is the Sharpnose mountain mullet dangerous to humans?

No, the Sharpnose mountain mullet is harmless to humans.

Is the Sharpnose mountain mullet edible?

The Sharpnose mountain mullet is rarely eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Spitssnuit-bergharder sourced
English name
Sharpnose mountain mullet sourced
Scientific name
Cestraeus oxyrhyncus
Family
Mugilidae
Other names
Sharp-nosed river mullet sourced

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
39.0 verified
Average length (cm)
20.0 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Brackish sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Max depth (m)
2.0 verified
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Social behaviour
Schooling inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Rarely eaten inferred
Fishing method
Vissen met natuurlijk aas (vis, garnaal, worm) of kunstaas dicht bij rif- en rotsstructuren. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified

Status & sources

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

Same genus Cestraeus

More from the family Mugilidae

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