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The mullets or grey mullets are a family (Mugilidae) of ray-finned fish found worldwide in coastal temperate and tropical waters, and some species in fresh water.<ref name=EoF/> Mullets have served as an important source of food in Mediterranean Europe since Roman times ,in ancient Egypt they ate pickled and dried mullet called fesikh<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> the family includes about 78 species in 26 genera.<ref name = Mugilidae>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Mullets are distinguished by the presence of two separate dorsal fins, small triangular mouths, and the absence of a lateral line organ. They feed on detritus, and most species have unusually muscular stomachs and a complex pharynx to help in digestion.<ref name=EoF>Template:Cite book</ref>
Classification and namingEdit
Taxonomically, the family is placed in the order Mugiliformes, which is named after it.<ref name="Nelson5">Template:BioRef</ref> Until recently, it was considered the only member of Mugiliformes, but more recent taxonomic treatments suggest that they are closely related to the Asiatic glassfishes (Ambassidae), which are now also placed in the group.<ref name=":1">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The presence of fin spines clearly indicates membership in the superorder Acanthopterygii, and in the 1960s, they were classed as primitive perciforms,<ref>Gosline, W. A. (1961) "The Perciform Caudal Skeleton" Copeia 1961(3): pp. 265–270</ref> while others have grouped them in Atheriniformes.<ref name = Oren>Template:Cite book</ref>
In North America, "mullet" by itself usually refers to Mugilidae. In Europe, the word "mullet" is usually qualified, the "grey mullets" being Mugilidae and the "red mullets" or "surmullets" being Mullidae, notably members of the genus Mullus.<ref name = BSF>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Outside Europe, the Mullidae are often called "goatfish".<ref name = Brittanica>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Fish with common names including the word "mullet" may be a member of one family or the other, or even unrelated such as the freshwater Catostomus commersonii.<ref name = CNCC>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
However, recent taxonomic work has reorganised the family and the following genera make up the Mugilidae:<ref name = Durand>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref name = Mugilidae/>
- Agonostomus Bennett, 1832
- Aldrichetta Whitley, 1945
- Cestraeus Valenciennes, 1836
- Chaenomugil Gill, 1863
- Chelon Artedi, 1763
- Crenimugil Schultz, 1946
- Dajaus Valenciennes, 1836
- Ellochelon Whitley, 1930
- Gracilimugil Whitley, 1941
- Joturus Poey, 1860
- Minimugil Durand, Chen, Shen, Fu & Borsa, 2012
- Mugil Linnaeus, 1758
- Myxus Günther, 1861
- Neomyxus Steindachner, 1878
- Neochelon Durand, Chen, Shen, Fu & Borsa 2012
- Oedalechilus Fowler 1903
- Osteomugil G. Luther, 1982
- Parachelon Durand, Chen, Shen, Fu & Borsa 2012
- Paramugil Ghasemzadeh, Ivantsoff & Aarn 2004
- Planiliza Whitley, 1945
- Plicomugil Schultz, 1953
- Pseudomyxus Durand, Chen, Shen, Fu & Borsa 2012
- Rhinomugil Gill, 1863
- Sicamugil Fowler, 1939
- Squalomugil Ogilby, 1908
- Trachystoma Ogilby, 1888
Template:Div col endThe oldest known fossil mullet is †Mugil princeps from the latest Oligocene-aged Aix-en-Provence Formation of France.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>
BehaviourEdit
A common noticeable behaviour in mullet is the tendency to leap out of the water. There are two distinguishable types of leaps: a straight, clean slice out of the water to escape predators and a slower, lower jump while turning to its side that results in a larger, more distinguishable, splash. The reasons for this lower jump are disputed, but have been hypothesised to be in order to gain oxygen rich air for gas exchange in a small organ above the pharynx.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>
DevelopmentEdit
The ontogeny of mugilid larvae has been well studied, with the larval development of Mugil cephalus in particular being studied intensively due to its wide range of distribution and interest to aquaculture.<ref name="Thieme2021">Template:Cite journal</ref> The previously understudied osteological development of Mugil cephalus was investigated in a 2021 study, with four embryonic and six larval developmental steps being described in aquaculture-reared and wild-caught specimens.<ref name="Thieme2021"/> These descriptions provided clarification of questionable characters of adult mullets and revealed informative details with potential implications for phylogenetic hypotheses, as well as providing an overdue basis of comparison for aquaculture-reared mullets to enable recognition of malformations.<ref name="Thieme2021"/>
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External linksEdit
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