Alan Davidson

Red Mullet

Mullus surmuletus Linnaeus

Appears in
top 1000North Atlantic Seafood
North Atlantic Seafood

By Alan Davidson

Published 1980

  • About

Family Mullidae

  • Portuguese: Salmonete
  • Spanish: Salmonete de roca
  • French: Rouget de roche
  • Dutch: Mul
  • German: Meerbarbe
  • Swedish: Mulle
  • Norwegian: Mulle
  • Danish: Mulle
  • Other: Belberiña (Basque); Mallette (Boulogne)

REMARKS Maximum length 40 cm. Back and sides are reddish, with yellow stripes. Note the striped dorsal fin and twin barbels (hence the name ‘striped red mullet’, sometimes used).

Of the two red mullet commonly found in the Mediterranean this is the one which adventures as far north as Britain and Ireland (especially the south and west coasts) and even to southern Norway. It is, however, only a summer visitor in British waters.