BioObs Logo
Back to the list

Species sheet

Edit this page

Black mullet

Mugil cephalus Linnaeus, 1758

AnimalsMullet, sea bass, wolfish
Poisson au corps allongé de 35 à 50 cm de longeur : - Tête proéminente, lèvres fines, yeux protégés par une paupière adipeuse, - Nageoires pectorales courtes avec une petite tache bleutée (violet foncé) à la base des pectorales, - Deux nageoires dorsales courtes triangulaires, - Nageoire anale jaunâtre, - Nageoire caudale grande et fourchue En habitat marin : corps vert olive sur le dos, flancs argentés avec six rayures longitudinales foncées et ventre blanc, En habitats estuariens (et rivière) : corps bleu foncé à brun sombre, flancs argenté terne.

Possible confusions

Mulet doré Chelon auratus : tâche dorée operculaire Mulet-porc Chelon ramada : tâche noire à la base des pectorales Mulet lippu Chelon labrosus : lèvre supérieure épaisse et nageoires gris sombre

Biotope / Habitat

Fonds sableux, vaseux, détritiques ou rocheux (eaux salines et eaux douces) Zone de la surface jusqu'à plus de 300 m, mais le plus souvent 0-20 m.

Distribution

Toutes les zones côtières tropicales, subtropicales et tempérées.

Distribution map

Geographic areas (BioObs)

Western MediterraneanMediterranean - Alboran SeaEastern MediterraneanNorth-East AtlanticNorth-West AtlanticReunion IslandMayotteNew CaledoniaPolynesiaRed SeaCanary Islands

Observation type

Scuba divingApnea / SnorkellingBoat observation

Other common names

  • Black true mulletBritish English
  • Bright mulletBritish English
  • Bully mulletBritish English
  • Callifaver mulletBritish English
  • Common grey mulletBritish English
  • Flathead grey mulletBritish English
  • Flathead mulletBritish English
  • Grey mulletBritish English
  • HaarderBritish English
  • Hardgut mulletBritish English
  • Mangrove mulletBritish English
  • MulletBritish English
  • River mulletBritish English
  • Sea mulletBritish English
  • SpringerBritish English
  • Striped mulletBritish English
  • GrosskopfGerman (Germany)
  • AlburEuropean Spanish
  • BullûaEuropean Spanish
  • CabeçutEuropean Spanish
  • CabezudoEuropean Spanish
  • CachambaEuropean Spanish
  • Cap plaEuropean Spanish
  • CapitánEuropean Spanish
  • CapitonEuropean Spanish
  • CéfaloEuropean Spanish
  • GalupeEuropean Spanish
  • Iliça de cap grosEuropean Spanish
  • Iliça sabadaEuropean Spanish
  • Ilissa lobarreraEuropean Spanish
  • LebrancheEuropean Spanish
  • LisaEuropean Spanish
  • Lisa cabezudaEuropean Spanish
  • Lisa comúnEuropean Spanish
  • Lisa pardeteEuropean Spanish
  • Lisa rayadaEuropean Spanish
  • Lissa amariaEuropean Spanish
  • Liza cabezonaEuropean Spanish
  • LizarraEuropean Spanish
  • LlizzaEuropean Spanish
  • MachuEuropean Spanish
  • MachutoEuropean Spanish
  • MugilEuropean Spanish
  • Mugil comúnEuropean Spanish
  • MujolEuropean Spanish
  • MuleEuropean Spanish
  • MuxoEuropean Spanish
  • PardeteEuropean Spanish
  • PordeteEuropean Spanish
  • Mulet à grosse têteFrench (France)
  • CabotFrench (France)
  • CaridaFrench (France)
  • CaridouFrench (France)
  • CremoleFrench (France)
  • MeuilFrench (France)
  • MugeFrench (France)
  • Muge à grosse têteFrench (France)
  • Muge cabotFrench (France)
  • Muge céphaleFrench (France)
  • Mugo fangousFrench (France)
  • MujouFrench (France)
  • MuletFrench (France)
  • Mulet à grosse têteFrench (France)
  • Mulet jauneFrench (France)
  • Mulet jeuneFrench (France)
  • Mulet-cabotFrench (France)
  • Poisson queue bleueFrench (France)
  • TestardFrench (France)
  • TestuFrench (France)
  • BaldigareItalian (Italy)
  • BolpinaItalian (Italy)
  • CapazzoneItalian (Italy)
  • CapocefaloItalian (Italy)
  • CapozzoItalian (Italy)
  • CapuozzoItalian (Italy)
  • Cefalo mazzoneItalian (Italy)
  • Cefalo veraceItalian (Italy)
  • Cefalo veroItalian (Italy)
  • CefaluItalian (Italy)
  • CiavariniItalian (Italy)
  • CievoloItalian (Italy)
  • FirzettaItalian (Italy)
  • GefaluItalian (Italy)
  • GlissàItalian (Italy)
  • LissaItalian (Italy)
  • MassunItalian (Italy)
  • MattarelloItalian (Italy)
  • MazzoneItalian (Italy)
  • MeciaItalian (Italy)
  • MeciatinoItalian (Italy)
  • MeciatoItalian (Italy)
  • MesciarinoItalian (Italy)
  • MugellaItalian (Italy)
  • MuggineItalian (Italy)
  • Muggine caparelloItalian (Italy)
  • MujelleItalian (Italy)
  • MulettaItalian (Italy)
  • MulettuItalian (Italy)
  • Musai Italian (Italy)
  • Musao neigroItalian (Italy)
  • MuzaItalian (Italy)
  • MuzaoItalian (Italy)
  • MuzzeruItalian (Italy)
  • MuzzuluItalian (Italy)
  • NgefanuItalian (Italy)
  • PisciammanoItalian (Italy)
  • SiegoloItalian (Italy)
  • SievoloItalian (Italy)
  • TestoneItalian (Italy)
  • TistuniItalian (Italy)
  • TueppeItalian (Italy)
  • VolpinaItalian (Italy)
  • VolpinoItalian (Italy)
  • VopinaItalian (Italy)
  • ZievaloItalian (Italy)
  • AalderDutch (Netherlands)
  • DiklipharderDutch (Netherlands)
  • MugemEuropean Portuguese
  • Tainha cabeça achatadaEuropean Portuguese

Other invalid scientific names

—

Links to our partners' sheets

INPN — Mugil cephalusGBIF — Mugil cephalus

Sources

How to cite this BioObs sheet?

BioObs, 06/05/2026 : Mugil cephalus Linnaeus, 1758, https://bioobs.fr/en/species-sheets/1228

Modification history

  • Modified by Eric Nozérac on 06/05/2026

Contact the species-sheet team

Spotted an error, have a detail to add or a photo to suggest for this sheet? Write to us — the team will reply by email.

Photos or PDF (optional)