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Goldspot mullet (Liza argentea) — Mugilidae

Goldspot mullet

Liza argentea
Family: Mugilidae

The Goldspot mullet (Liza argentea) is a brackish-water fish of the family Mugilidae that grows up to 30 cm.

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

Description

The goldspot mullet is a mullet of the family Mugilidae from the temperate waters around south-eastern Australia. The species grows to about 30 cm and has a streamlined, silvery body with a blue-green back. As a euryhaline species it lives in coastal waters, estuaries and river mouths, tolerating strongly varying salinities. It forms schools and grazes the bottom: it takes mouthfuls of sand and mud layers from which it sifts algae, diatoms, detritus and small invertebrates. The goldspot mullet is a locally valued food fish and is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Goldspot mullet?

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

Where does the Goldspot mullet live?

The Goldspot mullet lives in brackish water and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Goldspot mullet get?

The Goldspot mullet grows to a maximum of about 30 cm.

Is the Goldspot mullet dangerous to humans?

No, the Goldspot mullet is harmless to humans.

Is the Goldspot mullet edible?

Yes, the Goldspot mullet is commonly eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Goudvlek-harder sourced
English name
Goldspot mullet sourced
Scientific name
Liza argentea
Family
Mugilidae

Appearance

Max length (cm)
30 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
Brackish 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
Commonly eaten 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 Liza

More from the family Mugilidae

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