Relevant synonyms None Misidentification None Meristic formula D1, VIII; D2, I+8; V, I+5; LL, 28-29.  drawing : Tuvia Kurz

SHORT DESCRIPTION Body elongated and compressed towards the tail. Upper profile of head moderately convex. One spine on posterior margin of operculum. Mouth subterminal and slightly protruding, with prominent conical teeth in both jaws, some clearly visible even when mouth is closed. No teeth on vomar and palatines. Pair of stout barbels under the chin. Scales large and slightly ctenoid. Two well-separated dorsal fins. First spine of first dorsal fin very short. Pelvic fins comparatively large, and inserted below the pectoral fins. Caudal fin deeply forked. color : rosy, with 3 or 4 red lines along the body. size : common 30-35 cm (max. 55 cm). DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS Other mullids: no spine on opercular margin, and no teeth visible when mouth is closed. BIOLOGY / ECOLOGY Feeds on benthic and sub-benthic invertebrates detected by chemoreceptor-rich barbels on the chin. habitat : muddy or sandy substrate to depth of 300 m. Usually upper 50 m depth.

1st MEDITERRANEAN RECORD Off Málaga (Alboran Sea), 1987. DISTRIBUTION Worldwide : Eastern Atlantic from Mauritania to Angola. Mediterranean : only a single specimen recorded, off Málaga, Alboran Sea (Reina-Hervás, 1987). ESTABLISHMENT SUCCESS Very rare. speculated reasons for success : - MODE OF INTRODUCTION Via Gibraltar. IMPORTANCE TO HUMANS In the Atlantic is caught in trawl mainly at depths of 30-50 m.

KEY REFERENCES Reina-Hervás J.A., 1987. Análisis de la ictiofauna infralitoral en el sureste español (Mediterráneo Occidental). Cahiers de Biologie Marine, 28: 73-89. FEEDBACK / COMMENTS TO AUTHORS

Last update of the species sheet: March 2001 ©ciesm 2002