| Scientific name: Chelon labrosus |
| Nome comum: TaÃnha; Muja; Muge |
| Common name: Thicklip grey mullet |
| Classification: CHORDATA > ACTINOPTERYGII > Mugiliformes > Mugilidae |
| Description: A medium to large sized coastal fish, with elongate body and broad, dorsally flattened head. The upper lip is very deep and bears papillae. The eyes are partly covered by adipose tissue. Has two short dorsal fins, widely separated. Fairly large scales; no lateral line. Grey of blue dorsally; flanks and belly pale or silvery; with longitudinal stripes along scale rows. |
Global Distribution: Eastern Atlantic from Iceland to Senegal, Mediterranean Sea, and southwestern Black Sea.
View Map |
| BIOLOGICAL FEATURES |
| Size: Maximum length 75.0 cm (standard length); common length 32.0 cm (SL); maximum published weight 4.5 kg. Females are larger than males. |
| Age: Maximum reported age 25 years. |
| Weight length rel.: Bayesian estimated length-weight: a=0.00646 (0.00450 - 0.00926), b=3.14 (3.04 - 3.24). |
| Growth type: |
| von Bertallanfy growth parameters: |
| Reproduction: Reproduction occurs in the sea during winter. Pelagic eggs and larvae. |
| Maturity: 29.5 cm |
| Behavioural ecology: Forms schools. |
| Population structure & migrations: They migrate occasionally tending to move northward in summer-time as temperatures rise. |
|
| ECOLOGICAL FEATURES |
| Depth range: Canary Islands (Brito et al. 2002): from the surface to 20 m. |
| Habitat: Adults are found inshore in schools, frequently entering brackish lagoons and freshwater. |
| Feeding habits: Adults feed mainly on benthic diatoms, epiphytic algae, small invertebrates and detritus; juveniles feed only on zooplankton. |
| Trophic level: FishBase: 2.6 |
|
| FISHERIES |
| Commercial interest: Commercial species; also gamefish. Commercially it is not distinguished from other mugilids. |
| Conservation status: Least concern. |
| Nutritional information & food safety: |
|
| REFERENCES |
Brito A., Pascual P.J., Falcón J.M., Sancho A., González G. (2002). Peces de las islas Canarias. Catálogo comentado e ilustrado. Francisco Lemos Editor, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain, 418 pp.
Direcção Regional de Pescas, Madeira.
Froese R., Pauly D., editors (2011). FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. www.fishbase.org, (06/2014). www.fishbase.org/summary/Chelon-labrosus.html
Hureau J.-C., ed. (1984-1985). Fishes of the North-Eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean. UNESCO. Accessed through: Marine Species Identification Portal. World Wide Web electronic publication. http://species-identification.org (2014).
IUCN (2014). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2014.1. www.iucnredlist.org |
|
