Goldspot Mullet, Liza argentea (Quoy & Gaimard, 1825)

Scientific name: Liza argentea
Alternative name/s:
Brown-back Mullet, Bull-nose Mullet, Fantail Mullet, Flat-tail Mullet, Flattail Mullet, Gold-gill, Gold-gill Mullet, Jumpin Mullet, Jumping Mullet, Ramsay's Mullet, Rock Mullet, Rockies, Tiger Mullet, Tygum, Tygum Mullet, Wankari
  • Author(s)
    Mark McGrouther
  • Updated
    19/03/21
  • Read time
    2 minutes
I.41222-002 - Liza argentea Click to enlarge image
Goldspot Mullet, Liza argentea. Image: John Pogonoski
© Australian Museum

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Liza
    Species
    argentea
    Family
    Mugilidae
    Order
    Mugiliformes
    Class
    Actinopterygii
    Subphylum
    Vertebrata
    Phylum
    Chordata
    Kingdom
    Animalia
  • Number of Species
    Over twenty species of mullet are known from Australian waters.
  • Size Range
    The Goldspot Mullet grows to 30 cm in length.

Introduction

The Goldspot Mullet is light brown above, silver below and has dusky coloured dorsal and caudal fins. The eyes of live fish are purple with golden flecks.

Identification

The Goldspot Mullet can be separated from the other Australian species by the lack of an axillary process at the base of the pectoral fins and by the number of lateral linescales (35-38) and anal fin rays (10). The species is light brown above, silver below and has dusky coloured dorsal and caudal fins. The eyes of live fish are purple with golden flecks, and the posterior region of the operculum is golden.

Habitat

Juveniles are often found in coastal streams. Adults live in estuaries and along sea beaches.

Distribution

The species is endemic to Australia. It occurs in tropical and temperate waters from northern Queensland, around the south of the country and north to the central coast of Western Australia.

The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums. Click on the map for detailed information. Source: Atlas of Living Australia.

Distribution data sourced from the Atlas of Living Australia

References

  1. Allen, G.R. 1989. Freshwater Fishes of Australia. T.F.H. Publications. Pp. 240.
  2. Allen, G.R. 1997. Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and South-east Asia. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 292.
  3. Hoese, D.F., Bray, D.J., Paxton, J.R. & G.R. Allen. 2006. Fishes. In Beesley, P.L. & A. Wells. (eds) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Volume 35. ABRS & CSIRO Publishing: Australia. parts 1-3, pages 1-2178.
  4. Hutchins, B. & R. Swainston. 1986. Sea Fishes of Southern Australia. Complete Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Swainston Publishing. Pp. 180.
  5. Kuiter, R.H. in Gomon, M.F., Glover, C.J.M. & R.H. Kuiter (Eds). 1994. The Fishes of Australia's South Coast. State Print, Adelaide. Pp. 992.
  6. Thomson. J.M. in McDowall, R.M. 1996. Freshwater Fishes of South-Eastern Australia. Reed Books. Pp. 247.