Pinkeye Mullet,<i> Trachystoma petardi</i> Click to enlarge image
Trachystoma petardi at Shoalhaven Image: Sascha Schulz
© Sascha Schulz

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Trachystoma
    Species
    petardi
    Family
    Mugilidae
    Order
    Mugiliformes
    Class
    Actinopterygii
    Subphylum
    Vertebrata
    Phylum
    Chordata
    Kingdom
    Animalia
  • Size Range
    The species grows to 80 cm in length and 7.5 kg in weight, although is more commonly found at sizes up to 40 cm.

Introduction

The Pinkeye Mullet is a stout fish with a large belly and a deeply forked tail. It is endemic to Australia.

Identification

The Pinkeye Mullet is a stout fish with a large belly and a deeply forked tail. It has a small head that is shorter than the body depth. The species is greenish brown above, and silvery on the sides and below. The fins are dusky coloured. The species is frequently placed in genus Myxus.

Distribution

It is endemic to Australia. It occurs in freshwater coastal streams, as well as estuarineand coastal waters from southern Queensland to southern New South Wales.

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., Midgley, S.H. & Allen, M. 2002. Field Guide to the Freshwater Fishes of Australia. Perth : Western Australian Museum 394 pp. (as Myxus petardi)
  2. 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.
  3. Merrick, J.R. & G.E. Schmida. 1984. Australian Freshwater Fishes. Biology and Management. John R. Merrick. Pp. 409. (as Myxus petardi)
  4. Thomson, J.M. in McDowall, R.M. 1996. Freshwater Fishes of South-Eastern Australia. Reed Books. Pp. 247. (as Myxus petardi)