Striped Red Mullet

About

The red mullet is one of the most famous fish in Greek waters. A reddish-pink fish with two long, characteristic "moustache" barbels under the chin, used like sensors to probe for food in sand and mud.

In Greece there are two very closely related species that people commonly call by the same name, "Barbouni": Mullus barbatus ("Koutsomoura") - darker, unstriped, found on muddier seabeds; and Mullus surmuletus (the "true" striped red mullet) - with a yellow-brown longitudinal stripe, found in rockier areas.

It is recognised by its reddish-pink colour in adults (silvery in juveniles), its two long white chin barbels - its single most unmistakable feature - yellow fins, and a pointed snout. In M. surmuletus, a bold brown-yellow stripe running from the eye to the tail is an additional giveaway.

They usually move in small groups of 3-10 individuals close to the bottom, constantly digging. Juveniles are silvery-beige with a red stripe and live in the shallows (1-3m) throughout the summer. Highly prized for its meat, it is considered one of the tastiest fish in the Mediterranean. Completely harmless and very skittish - at the slightest movement it kicks up a cloud of sand and darts away.

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Useful Information

Ζώνη Βάθους: Ρηχά Νερά
Επίσης Γνωστό Ως: Κουτσομούρα, Μπάρμπουνος, Μπαρμπουνάκι
Επικινδυνότητα: Ασφαλές
Ομάδα Είδους: Ψάρια
Καλύτερη Περίοδος: Μάιος - Οκτώβριος - τότε είναι στα ρηχά και βλέπεις τα μικρά κοπαδάκια
Επιστημονική Ονομασία: Mullus barbatus / Mullus surmuletus
Συχνότητα Εμφάνισης: Πολύ Συχνό