Striped Mullet FMP - NC Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources
Striped Mullet FMP - NC Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources
Striped Mullet FMP - NC Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources
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5. STATUS OF STOCK5.1 GENERAL LIFE HISTORYGlossary <strong>of</strong> Biological TermsBackgroundA glossary <strong>of</strong> biological terms can be found in the Appendix 1.<strong>Striped</strong> 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-<strong>of</strong>-the-year (YOY) are notcommonly reported into the Middle Atlantic Bight (Able <strong>and</strong> 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, <strong>and</strong> lisa (Ibanez-Aguirre et al. 1995; Leard et al.1995).The striped mullet, white mullet (Mugil curema), <strong>and</strong> mountain mullet (Agonostomusmonitcola) are the three Mugilid species found in North Carolina. <strong>Striped</strong> mullet <strong>and</strong> whitemullet are similar in appearance, but can be taxonomically distinguished by anal fin ray countsor pectoral fin measurements (Collins 1985a; Collins 1985b). <strong>Striped</strong> mullet possess 11 anal finelements: 3 anal spines <strong>and</strong> 8 anal fin rays, <strong>and</strong> the pectoral fins are 66 to 74% <strong>of</strong> the headlength; white mullet possess 12 anal fin elements: 3 anal spines <strong>and</strong> 9 anal fin rays, <strong>and</strong> thepectoral fin lengths are 77 to 84% <strong>of</strong> the head length (Collins 1985a; Collins 1985b). <strong>Striped</strong>mullet also develop longitudinal stripes along the body by its juvenile stage. White mullet lackstripes <strong>and</strong> 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 (Martin<strong>and</strong> Drewry 1978; DMF unpublished data).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 <strong>of</strong> white mullet in North Carolina waters is notdocumented. White mullet older than age 1+ are rarely collected north <strong>of</strong> Florida (Anderson1958). One specimen <strong>of</strong> mountain mullet was noted in Brunswick County, North Carolina(Rohde 1976).All body lengths (st<strong>and</strong>ard length (SL), fork length (FL), or total length (TL)) cited fromscientific literature are reported as TL in this section (Figure 5.1).14