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Fringelip mullet (Crenimugil heterocheilos) — Mugilidae

Fringelip mullet

Crenimugil heterocheilos
Family: Mugilidae
LC · Least Concern

The Fringelip mullet (Crenimugil heterocheilos) is a fish that lives in both fresh and salt water of the family Mugilidae that grows up to 50 cm.

Length
50 cm
Water
Euryhaline
Depth
0.0–3.0 m
Diet
Omnivore
Behaviour
Schooling
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Commonly eaten

Description

The fringelip mullet is a mullet from coastal, estuarine and fresh water of the Indo-West Pacific. The species grows to about 50 cm and has a streamlined, silvery body with a conspicuously fringed upper lip. It schools in shallow coastal and river-mouth water and scrapes aufwuchs, algae and detritus from the bottom with its lips, also taking in silt that it sifts. It is an important local food fish. The IUCN assesses the species as Least Concern (LC).

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Fringelip mullet?

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

Where does the Fringelip mullet live?

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

How big does the Fringelip mullet get?

The Fringelip mullet grows to a maximum of about 50 cm. On average the species is around 23 cm.

Is the Fringelip mullet dangerous to humans?

No, the Fringelip mullet is harmless to humans.

Is the Fringelip mullet edible?

Yes, the Fringelip mullet is commonly eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Franjelip-harder verified
English name
Fringelip mullet verified
Scientific name
Crenimugil heterocheilos
Family
Mugilidae
Other names
Fringe-lipped mullet; Half fringelip mullet verified

Appearance

Size class
Large verified
Max length (cm)
50.0 verified
Average length (cm)
23.0 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey sourced
Pattern
Plain sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Mouth position
Inferior (downward) sourced
Lips
Thick / fleshy sourced
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
Two separate sourced
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Euryhaline sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
0.0 verified
Max depth (m)
3.0 verified
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

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

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten sourced
Fishing method
Netvisserij sourced
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced

Status & sources

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

Same genus Crenimugil

More from the family Mugilidae

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