Mullus barbatus

Size range: 11-23 cm

Common size: 18 cm

Depth range: 10-300 m

Habitat: Specify the title (Hard, Soft or Vegetation) and the type:

• Soft - sand ,mud and sometimes gravel.

Water column position:

• Benthic

Schooling characteristics: (?)

• Solitary
• Small groups

Colors & patterns:

• two barbels on chin
• upper profile of head clearly bent, snout almost vertical (less so in young's)
• first dorsal fin colorless
• Eye bigger then mullus surmuletus
• No strikes on tail
• background color pinkish to silvery often with a longitudinal line starting from eye.
• Sometimes shiny mottling on ventral part.
• less reddish when in shallow well lit habitat.

2. Activity:

• Diurnal (?)

3. Approach:

• Indifferent (?)

4. Unique behavior: A concise description of any unique behavior (breeding, nesting, cleaning etc.).

5. Feeding characteristic - Feeds on small benthic crustaceans, worms and mollusks .

EM notes: juveniles can be seen in very shallow waters