# Grey Mullet (*Chelon auratus*) Grey Mullet is a strong fish that can be found in both salt and freshwater. They are known for their tasty flesh! - **Category:** [Fish](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/fish) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Habitat:** Coastal waters - **Also known as:** Mullet ![Grey Mullet](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771424539/objects/4710.jpg) ## Appearance The Grey Mullet has a sleek, torpedo-shaped body, typically grey or silver with darker fins. It features large scales and a small, upturned mouth. Its subtle coloring helps it blend into coastal waters. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Actinopterygii - **Order:** Mugiliformes - **Family:** Mugilidae - **Genus:** Chelon ## Interesting facts - Many species gather in huge 'schools' that can fill a whole bay! - Mullet are ancient fish, with ancestors dating back millions of years! - Some Grey Mullet can live for over 10 years, even in busy estuaries! - They use tiny teeth on their gills to filter out their microscopic meals! ## Special abilities - **Salinity Shifter:** Grey Mullet can easily move between salty ocean water and fresh river water thanks to special kidney adaptations. - **Leaping Escape:** Grey Mullet has powerful tail muscles that help them leap high out of the water to escape predators. - **Mouth Vacuum:** Grey Mullet can suck up tiny bits of food from the seabed because of their unique, muscular mouth. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 30-70 cm - **Weight:** 0.5-4 kg - **Lifespan:** 5-12 years - **Swim Speed:** 20 km/h - **Maximum Depth:** 50 m - **Water Type:** Brackish ## Diet & Feeding They are bottom-feeders, munching on tiny plants, algae, and detritus found in mud and sand. - **Primary Foods:** detritus, algae, diatoms, decaying plant matter, small invertebrates - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Osprey](https://www.snappit.app/explore/osprey) (*Pandion haliaetus*) — This fish-eating bird of prey dives from above to catch mullet. - **Eaten by:** [Bottlenose Dolphin](https://www.snappit.app/explore/bottlenose-dolphin) (*Tursiops truncatus*) — Dolphins hunt mullet in coastal waters, often herding them. - **Eaten by:** Smooth Hammerhead Shark (*Sphyrna zygaena*) — These sharks are known to prey on schooling fish like mullet. ## Traits - [Wildlife](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wildlife): Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats. - [Piscivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/piscivorous): Piscivorous organisms are animals that primarily subsist on a diet of fish. - [Coastal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/coastal): Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater. - [Aquatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aquatic): Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands. - [Marine](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/marine): Marine habitats encompass all saltwater environments of the Earth's oceans, supporting an immense diversity of aquatic life. ## Collections - [Fish](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/fish) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Watch quietly from a distance and never try to feed or chase wild animals. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Grey Mullet? Look at body shape, where the fins sit and their outline, mouth position, stripes and spots. Young fish and breeding adults can wear different patterns, and aquarium color varieties can look nothing like wild fish. Fish Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Grey Mullet? 30-70 cm ### How much does Grey Mullet weigh? 0.5-4 kg ### How long does Grey Mullet live? 5-12 years ### What does Grey Mullet eat? They are bottom-feeders, munching on tiny plants, algae, and detritus found in mud and sand. ### How fast can Grey Mullet swim? 20 km/h ### Where is Grey Mullet usually found? Coastal waters ### How does Grey Mullet hunt? Foraging ## More Fish - [Rainbow Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/rainbow-trout) (*Oncorhynchus mykiss*) - [Brown Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-trout) (*Salmo trutta*) - [Brook Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brook-trout) (*Salvelinus fontinalis*) - [Lake Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/lake-trout) (*Salvelinus namaycush*) --- Source: [Grey Mullet: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/grey-mullet)