A key to the species of Mugilidae (Pisces) in the Northeastern Atlantic and Mediterranean, with explanatory notes

Abstract

A key is given for identifying the eight species of Mugilidae of the Northeast Atlantic and Mediterranean. The use of Risso's names for four species is justified and explained and recognition is given to Tortonese's discovery that Mugil capurrii (Perugia) is a senior synonym of M. monodi Chabanaud. The relationship of Liza saliens to certain species of West and southern Africa is held to be additional support for the recognition of Protomugil Popov as a subgenus of Liza including these species. Chelon Röse, with type‐species Mugil chelo Cuvier (=Chelon labrosus (Risso)), is recognized, following Jordan & Evermann (1917) and Schultz (1946), but its limits are differently conceived so as to include Crenimugil Schultz rather than Liza Jordan & Swain. The latter is held to comprise about 30 Old World species. The status of Chelon bispinosus (Bowdich) is discussed, with its bearing on possible population‐differences in C. labrosus and the relationship of this species with C. crenilabis. The identity of Liza seheli (Forskål) is discussed and reasons are given for disagreeing with Wimpenny and others in applying this name to the species found at both ends of the Suez Canal zone. The latter is L. carinata (Ehrenberg in Cuvier & Valenciennes). Myxus maroccensis Mohr is believed to be a young Liza ramada.

Molecular Phylogeny of Grey Mullets (Teleostei: Mugilidae) in Greece: Evidence from Sequence Analysis of mtDNA Segments

“…Elucidation of the taxonomic status of the Mugilidae family has been attempted at various levels by several investigators (e.g., Schultz 1946;Trewavas and Ingham 1972;Thomson 1981Thomson , 1997Harrison and Howes 1991). These studies were traditionally based on the use of morphological characters such as the pharyngobranchial organ or the presence of an adipose eyelid, among other features, as key characters.…”

Phylogenetic relationships in grey mullets (Mugilidae) in a Tunisian lagoon

“…Classi¢cation and phylogenetic relationships between grey mullets have been investigated on the basis of morphological characters (Schultz 1946;Trewavas & Ingham 1972;Farrugio 1977;Thomson 1981;Anderson 1982;Harrison & Howes 1991). Nelson (1994) and Thomson (1997) subdivided the Mugilidae family into 14 genera and 64 valid species in the world.…”

A case study on the labeling of bottarga produced in Sardinia from ovaries of grey mullets (Mugil cephalus and Mugil capurrii) caught in Eastern Central Atlantic coasts

“…Other authors (Trewavas and Ingham, 1972 ) published a key to the mullets species, with the purpose of supplementing the section on the Mugilidae in the fishes checklist of the Northeastern Atlantic and Mediterranean (valid as to genera only within the region). The following key was reported: cleft of mouth as wide as or wider than long = Mugil cephalus ; cleft of mouth longer than wide = Mugil capurrii .…”