Red Mullet

Gregarious, on soft bottoms. Its steep head profile makes it easy to identify. The popular name may be misleading as the coloration varies from light with a reddish stripe along a lateral line too a dark mottling at night. Two chin barbells (all family members!) equipped with tactile and taste sensory organs are used to find prey items buried in the ground (crustaceans, worms, mollusks). Sand is taken into the mouth, filtered for food and expelled via the gill slits.

Mediterranean, Black Sea. North Sea to Senegal. Azores, Canary Islands.

Depth range: 10–100 m (maximum 300 m), on soft bottoms.