Chelon labrosus (Risso, 1827)
Thicklip grey mullet
Chelon labrosus
photo by JJPhoto

Family:  Mugilidae (Mullets)
Max. size:  75 cm SL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 4,500.0 g; max. reported age: 25 years
Environment:  demersal; freshwater; brackish; marine; depth range 2 - 15 m, catadromous
Distribution:  Eastern Atlantic: Scandinavia and Iceland (Ref. 4537) south to Senegal and Cape Verde. Also Mediterranean Sea; southwestern Black Sea (Ref. 2058).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 5-5; Dorsal soft rays (total): 7-9; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 8-9
Biology:  Adults are found inshore in schools, frequently entering brackish lagoons and freshwater (Ref. 30578). They migrate occasionally tending to move northward in summer-time as temperatures rise. Females are larger than males (Ref. 59043). Adults feed mainly on benthic diatoms, epiphytic algae, small invertebrates and detritus (Ref. 2804), juveniles only feed on zooplankton (Ref. 59043). Oviparous (Ref. 205). Reproduction occurs in the sea during winter (Ref. 30578). Eggs and larvae pelagic. Utilized as a food fish (Ref. 4645).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 01 January 2008 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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