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Leaping mullet (Mugil capurrii) — Mugilidae

Leaping mullet

Mugil capurrii
Family: Mugilidae

The Leaping mullet (Mugil capurrii) is a brackish-water fish of the family Mugilidae that grows up to 45 cm.

Length
45 cm
Water
Brackish
Depth
0.0–300.0 m
Behaviour
Schooling
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Commonly eaten

Description

The leaping mullet is a mullet (Mugilidae) from shallow coastal, estuarine and lagoon water of the eastern Atlantic around West Africa. The species grows to about 35 cm and has a streamlined, silver-grey body with a blunt head and small mouth. As a social, bottom-oriented fish it moves in schools over sand and mud bottoms and takes detritus, algae and micro-organisms, which it grinds with a gizzard-like stomach. It is a valued food fish. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Leaping mullet?

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

Where does the Leaping mullet live?

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

How big does the Leaping mullet get?

The Leaping mullet grows to a maximum of about 45 cm. On average the species is around 30 cm.

Is the Leaping mullet dangerous to humans?

No, the Leaping mullet is harmless to humans.

Is the Leaping mullet edible?

Yes, the Leaping mullet is commonly eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Leentjes-harder sourced
English name
Leaping mullet sourced
Scientific name
Mugil capurrii
Family
Mugilidae
Other names
Leaping African mullet; Narrowhead grey mullet verified

Appearance

Size class
Large verified
Max length (cm)
45.0 verified
Average length (cm)
30.0 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Brackish sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
0.0 verified
Max depth (m)
300.0 verified
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

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

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten inferred
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 verified

Status & sources

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

Same genus Mugil

More from the family Mugilidae

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