About Mugil curema Valenciennes, 1836
Mugil curema, described by Valenciennes in 1836, is commonly known as white mullet or silver mullet. It should be noted that the common name silver mullet is also used for a different species, the fantail mullet Mugil trichodon. This species is a tropical and subtropical marine fish belonging to the family Mugilidae. Adults commonly reach around 30 cm (12 inches) in length. It is found in both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, occurring mainly along American coasts. In the Western Atlantic, its range extends from Argentina to Cape Cod, and rarely as far north as Nova Scotia. In the Eastern Atlantic, it occurs from Namibia to Senegal. In the Eastern Pacific, its range stretches from Chile to the Gulf of California. White mullet inhabit sandy coasts and littoral pools, and can also be found in brackish lagoons and estuaries over muddy substrates. They sometimes even enter rivers. Juveniles in particular frequently enter estuaries and coastal lagoons, while adult white mullet form and live in schools.
