Missouri Department of Conservation
Missouri Department of Conservation

Taxonomy

Common Name: MULLET, STRIPED

Phylum: CHORDATA

Class: OSTEICHTHYES

Order: PERCIFORMES

Family: MUGILIDAE

Genus: MUGIL

Species: CEPHALUS

Taxonomic Authority: LINNAEUS

Taxonomy References: 002

Status

NONGAME
ACCIDENTAL
GLOBAL RANK G5

Status References: 001 , 011 , 014 , 016

Habitat Summary

"Generally occupies marine or estuarine habitat, but occasionally migrates upstream in large rivers (Mississippi)."

Primary Habitat: "Aquatic - river/stream"

References: 003 , 004 , 005 , 006 , 007 , 008

Distribution

General Occurrence in State:

"Occurs as strays migrating up Mississippi river *15*."

County Occurance

County Occurence
Known Likely Unknown Not Likely Historic Extirpated
JEFFERSON PEMISCOT ADAIR
MISSISSIPPI ANDREW
NEW MADRID ATCHISON
SCOTT AUDRAIN
BARRY
BARTON
BATES
BENTON
BOLLINGER
BOONE
BUCHANAN
BUTLER
CALDWELL
CALLAWAY
CAMDEN
CAPE GIRARDEAU
CARROLL
CARTER
CASS
CEDAR
CHARITON
CHRISTIAN
CLARK
CLAY
CLINTON
COLE
COOPER
CRAWFORD
DADE
DALLAS
DAVIESS
DEKALB
DENT
DOUGLAS
DUNKLIN
FRANKLIN
GASCONADE
GENTRY
GREENE
GRUNDY
HARRISON
HENRY
HICKORY
HOLT
HOWARD
HOWELL
IRON
JACKSON
JASPER
JOHNSON
KNOX
LACLEDE
LAFAYETTE
LAWRENCE
LEWIS
LINCOLN
LINN
LIVINGSTON
MACON
MADISON
MARIES
MARION
MCDONALD
MERCER
MILLER
MONITEAU
MONROE
MONTGOMERY
MORGAN
NEWTON
NODAWAY
OREGON
OSAGE
OZARK
PERRY
PETTIS
PHELPS
PIKE
PLATTE
POLK
PULASKI
PUTNAM
RALLS
RANDOLPH
RAY
REYNOLDS
RIPLEY
SALINE
SCHUYLER
SCOTLAND
SHANNON
SHELBY
ST. CHARLES
ST. CLAIR
ST. FRANCOIS
ST. LOUIS
STE. GENEVIEVE
STODDARD
STONE
SULLIVAN
TANEY
TEXAS
VERNON
WARREN
WASHINGTON
WAYNE
WEBSTER
WORTH
WRIGHT

References for distribution: 015

Distribution by Watersheds

Miss. R. from St. Louis to River Aux Vases
Miss. R. from River Aux Vases to Ohio R.
Miss R. from Ohio R. to Arkansas Border

Comments: ""

Distribution by Ecoregions

Mississippi River Alluvial Plains

Comments: ""

Distribution by Potential Natural Vegetation

Southern Floodplain Forest

Distribution by Natural Divisions of Missouri

Big Rivers: Lower Mississippi
Mississippi Lowlands: Lowlands

Habitat Associations

Species is associated with "Aquatic" habitats.

National Wetlands Inventory Association:

Riverine

Aquatic Associations:

"Riverine, unknown perennial"

References for Aquatic Associations: 003 , 004 , 005

Habitat Types:

Permanent Stream

References for Habitat Types: 012

Terrestrial Natural Communities:

References for Terrestrial Natural Communities:

Food Habits

Trophic Level:

"Carnivore"

Larval Food Habits

Comments for larval food habits:
""

References for larval food habits:

Juvenile Food Habits

Insects Insects; Larva stage
Crustaceans; Not Specified

Comments for Juvenile Food Habits:
""

References Juvenile Food Habits 015

Adult Food Habits

Detritus (organic); Not Specified

Comments for Adult Food Habits:
""

References Adult Food Habits 015

Niche Requirements

Egg Niche Requirements

References for egg niches requirements:

Feeding Larvae Niche Requirements

References for feeding larvae niche requirements:

Resting Larvae Niche Requirements

References for resting Larvae niche requirements:

Feeding Juvenile Niche Requirements

Other niche requirements specified in comments(99999)
Water level: permanently flooded
Inland wetlands: permanent stream

References for feeding juvenile niche requirements: 003 , 004 , 005

Resting Juvenile Niche Requirements

Other niche requirements specified in comments(99999)

References for resting juvenile niche requirements: 003 , 004 , 005

Breeding Adult Niche Requirements

Other niche requirements specified in comments(99999)

References for feeding Adult niche requirements: 001 , 004 , 005 , 006 , 007 , 008

Feeding Adult Niche Requirements

Other niche requirements specified in comments(99999)
Water level: permanently flooded
Inland wetlands: permanent stream

References for feeding adult niche requirements: 003 , 004 , 005

Resting Adult Niche Requirements

Other niche requirements specified in comments(99999)
Water level: permanently flooded
Inland wetlands: permanent stream

References for resting adult niche requirements: 003 , 004 , 005

Niche Requirement Summary

Inland wetlands: permanent stream
Other niche requirements specified in comments(99999)
Water level: permanently flooded

Comments about Life History:

Code Comment
001 Is a marine and estuarine species which occasionally migrates up coastal rivers *03*. Has been taken from Mississippiriver, new madrid co. *01*
004 Forage by active pursuit *01*
007 Spawn October-February, with peak spawning December-January *06,07*
012 Usually spawn in marine or estuarine habitat *05,06,07,08*, though may have spawned in fresh water in CO *04*
008 On west coast of FL, 1 female was seen spawning with 4 males *05*
033 Young usually remain at sea until they are 18-28 mm, then move inshore *06*
038 In NC study, fish 14-17 mo. Were 5-8", reached length of 1' or more by 2nd fall *10*. In the south atlantic, larvae were 4-30 mm *06*. In the colo. R., 31 postlarvae average 32.4 mm sl *04*. On the FL west coast, males were usually about 2/3 the size of females *05*
022 Mature by age 2 *10*

Life History Information

Migration patterns specified in comments(033)
Age and growth information specified in comments(038)
School throughout life
Origin in state specified in comments(001)
Foraging strategy specified in comments(004)
Foraging sites: water
Breeding season specified in comments(007)
Mating system specified in comments(008)
Spawning site specified in comments(012)
Age at sexual maturity specified in comments(022)

Comments about Life History:

Code Comment
001 Is a marine and estuarine species which occasionally migrates up coastal rivers *03*. Has been taken from Mississippiriver, new madrid co. *01*
004 Forage by active pursuit *01*
007 Spawn October-February, with peak spawning December-January *06,07*
012 Usually spawn in marine or estuarine habitat *05,06,07,08*, though may have spawned in fresh water in CO *04*
008 On west coast of FL, 1 female was seen spawning with 4 males *05*
033 Young usually remain at sea until they are 18-28 mm, then move inshore *06*
038 In NC study, fish 14-17 mo. Were 5-8", reached length of 1' or more by 2nd fall *10*. In the south atlantic, larvae were 4-30 mm *06*. In the colo. R., 31 postlarvae average 32.4 mm sl *04*. On the FL west coast, males were usually about 2/3 the size of females *05*
022 Mature by age 2 *10*

References for life history: 001 , 003 , 005 , 006 , 007 , 008 , 013

Management

Beneficial Management Practices:

Beneficial Management References:

Adverse Managment Practices:

Adverse Management References:

Comments on Management:

References for Management Comments:

References

Reference Code Citation
001 Unpb Pflieger, W.L. Mo Dept. Of Conservation, 1110 S. College Ave., Columbia, Mo 65201. (573-882-9880).
002 Nelson, Joseph S., Edwin J. Crossman, Héctor Espinosa-Pérez, Lloyd T. Findley, Carter R. Gilbert, Robert N. Lea, and James D. Williams. 2004. Common And Scientific Names Of Fishes From The United States, Canada and Mexico (6th Ed.). Amer. Fish Soc. Spec. Publ. No. 29. 386 pp.
003 Lee, D.S., C.R. Gilbert, C.H. Hocutt, R.E. Jenkins, D.E. Mcallister, and J.R. Stauffer, Jr. 1980. Atlas Of North American Freshwater Fishesn. Carolina Biol. Surv. Publ. No. 1980-12. 854 Pp.
004 Johnson, D.W. and E.L. Mcclendon. 1970. Differential Distribution Of The Striped Mullet, Mugil Cephalus Linnaeus. Calif. Fish and Game 56:138-139.
005 Breder, C.M.,Jr. 1940. The Spawning Of Mugil Cephalus On The Florida West Coast. Copeia 1940(2):138-139.
006 Anderson, W.W. 1958. Larval Development, Growth And Spawning Of Striped Mullet (Mugil Cephalus) Along The South Atlantic Coast Of The United States. U.S. Fws Fish. Bull. 144:501-519.
007 Fitch, J.E. 1972. A Case For Striped Mullet, Mugil Cephalus, Spawning At Sea. Calif. Fish and Game 58:246-249.
008 Arnold, E.L.,Jr. and J.R. Thompson. 1958. Offshore Spawning Of The Striped Mullet, Mugil Cephalus, In The Gulf Of Mexico. Copeia 1958(2):130-132.
009 Thom, R.H. and J.H. Wilson. 1980 The Natural Divisions Of Missouri. Trans. Mo Acad. Sci. 14:9-24.
010 Jacot, A.P. 1920. Age, Growth And Scale Characters Of The Mullets, Mugil Cephalus And Mugil Curema. Trans. Am. Micro. Soc. 34(3):199- 229. (Cited In Ref. No. 06).
011 The Wildlife Code of Missouri. Missouri Department of Conservation, P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102. 573-751-4115.
012 Kelly, G. (Ed.) 1986. Animal Habitat Relations Handbook. Mo Dept. Of Conservation and U.S.D.A. Forest Service. Jefferson City, Mo. 293 Pp.
013 Pflieger, W.L. 1989. Aquatic Community Classification System For Missouri. Mo Dept. Of Conservation. Aquatic Series No. 19. 70 Pp + Supplement.
014 Rare And Endangered Species Checklist Of Missouri. 1995. Missouri Dept. Of Conservation Natural Heritage Database. Jefferson City, Mo. 31 Pp.
015 Pflieger, W.L. 1997. The Fishes Of Missouri, Revised Edition. Mo Dept. Of Conservation. Jefferson City, Mo. 372 Pp.
016 Missouri Natural Heritage Program. 2001. Missouri Species Of Conservation Concern. Mo Dept. Of Conservation, Jefferson City, Mo. Xi + 28 Pp.