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Species Guide

Flathead Grey Mullet

Mugil Lisa Mugil Cephalus
  • Spanish Name: Múgil, Lisa
  • English Name: Flathead Grey Mullet
  • Scientific Name: Mugil cephalus
  • Type of specie: Fish
  • Order: Mugiliformes
  • Family: Mugilidae

Habitat

  • Natural: Lagoons, estuaries, and shallow coastal waters with sandy or muddy bottoms.
  • Farming: Brackish water ponds and lagoons with controlled flow and good oxygenation.

General Description

  • Body shape: Elongated, fusiform, and moderately compressed.
  • Distinctive features:

    Grayish body with silvery flanks and a white belly; separated dorsal fins and a flat head with a broad snout.

Size and Weight

  • Average length: Generalmente entre 30 y 60 cm; en estado silvestre puede alcanzar hasta 1 metro.
  • Average weight: Comúnmente entre 0,5 y 2 kg; algunos ejemplares pueden llegar a pesar hasta 8 kg.

Life Cycle

Moderate growth, reaching market size in 1 to 2 years.

Adaptations

Tolerant to a wide range of salinities, allowing farming in freshwater, brackish, and saltwater.

Juveniles farming systems

Captured from the wild or raised in ponds.

Grow-out farming systems

Mainly in brackish water ponds or coastal lagoons.

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Discover our feeding systems
  • Geographical distribution
Temperate and tropical waters of the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans, as well as coastal lagoons and estuaries.
  • Main producing countries
Egypt, Greece, Italy, Turkey, India, China.
  • Commercial value

Highly valued for its meat and roe (known as bottarga), which is used in gourmet cuisine.

  • Additional uses

By-products: Salted and dried roe is a high-value product.

  • Common preparation methods
Captured from the wild or raised in ponds.