Cylindrical body that tapers down to an emarginate tail. Two distinct dorsal fins. Back blue green to olive; sides and belly silvery to white. Dark spot at the base of the pectoral fins and gold spot on the gill plates. Eyes exhibits red-orange to yellowish pigmentation on the upper iris.
Average Maximum Size:
91 cm (36 in)
Adults Distinguishing Characteristics:
White Mullet lack stripes, and have gold spot on gill plate. Striped Mullet have stripes and have no gold spot on gill plate.
Juveniles Distinguishing Characteristics:
To distinguish them from the White Mullet from Striped Mullet eye pigment (yellow) of the White mullet will be concentrated at the top of the eye, whereas Striped Mullets will be spread around the entire eye. The White Mullet will also have a brassy-gold spot on its gill plate whereas the Striped Mullet will not.
Range:
Nova Scotia to Argentina
Habitat:
Wide range of salinities including fresh and brackish waters; commonly found in estuaries and inshore and occassionally offshore
