Striped Mullet FMP - NC Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources

5. STATUS OF STOCK5.1 GENERAL LIFE HISTORYGlossary of Biological TermsBackgroundA glossary of biological terms can be found in the Appendix 1.Striped mullet (Mugil cephalus) occur worldwide, predominantly in sub-tropical to tropicallatitudes (Collins 1985a). Along the western Atlantic, striped mullet have been documentedfrom Nova Scotia to Brazil, although stages older than young-of-the-year (YOY) are notcommonly reported into the Middle Atlantic Bight (Able and Fahay 1998). The striped mullet isalso known as the jumping mullet, black mullet, grey mullet, popeye mullet, whirligig mullet,common mullet, molly, callifavor, menille, liza, and lisa (Ibanez-Aguirre et al. 1995; Leard et al.1995).The striped mullet, white mullet (Mugil curema), and mountain mullet (Agonostomusmonitcola) are the three Mugilid species found in North Carolina. Striped mullet and whitemullet are similar in appearance, but can be taxonomically distinguished by anal fin ray countsor pectoral fin measurements (Collins 1985a; Collins 1985b). Striped mullet possess 11 anal finelements: 3 anal spines and 8 anal fin rays, and the pectoral fins are 66 to 74% of the headlength; white mullet possess 12 anal fin elements: 3 anal spines and 9 anal fin rays, and thepectoral fin lengths are 77 to 84% of the head length (Collins 1985a; Collins 1985b). Stripedmullet also develop longitudinal stripes along the body by its juvenile stage. White mullet lackstripes and possess a distinct gold spot on the opercle (gill cover). Juvenile white mullet arecommonly found during summer months in estuarine habitats shared by striped mullet (Martinand Drewry 1978; DMF unpublished data). In North Carolina, white mullet demonstrate aseaward emigration during the fall months, presumably migrating to Florida or southwards(Collins 1985b). Reproductive activity of white mullet in North Carolina waters is notdocumented. White mullet older than age 1+ are rarely collected north of Florida (Anderson1958). One specimen of mountain mullet was noted in Brunswick County, North Carolina(Rohde 1976).All body lengths (standard length (SL), fork length (FL), or total length (TL)) cited fromscientific literature are reported as TL in this section (Figure 5.1).14