Thinlip mullet facts for kids
The thinlip mullet (Chelon ramada) is a type of fish that belongs to the Mugilidae family. You can find it in shallow waters around Europe. This fish is also a migratory animal, meaning it travels from one place to another during different seasons.
Quick facts for kids Thinlip mullet |
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What Does It Look Like?
The thinlip mullet has a long, flat body. Its head is short and flat, and it has a wide mouth with a thin upper lip. This fish has two fins on its back. It is shiny blue-grey on top and lighter underneath. It has big scales, but you can't easily see its side line (a special line fish have to sense things).
This fish can grow up to about 70 centimeters (27 inches) long. Most often, you will see them around 35 centimeters (14 inches) long. The biggest ones ever recorded weighed more than three kilograms (about 6.6 pounds)!
Where Does It Live?
You can find the thinlip mullet in the eastern Atlantic Ocean. Its range stretches from Cape Verde and Senegal in the south all the way north to the Baltic Sea. It also lives in the Mediterranean Sea, the Black Sea, and the Azov Sea.
This fish usually lives in open water but often comes close to shore. It can even swim into lagoons, river mouths, and rivers. It eats tiny plants that grow on other things, bits of dead stuff, and small creatures that live on the bottom or float in the water. Thinlip mullets are commonly found in waters from 0 to 10 meters (0 to 33 feet) deep, and they rarely go deeper than that.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
Thinlip mullets lay their eggs in the sea, close to the coast. This usually happens between September and February.
Fishing for Thinlip Mullet
Fishermen catch thinlip mullet using different types of nets, like gill nets, trammel nets, and beach seines. Sometimes, they use cast nets too.
For people who fish for fun, spearguns or fishing rods with floats are popular. They put bait like bread, special pastes, or fish guts on their hooks. You have to be careful when reeling in big mullets because their lips are soft, and they can easily get off the hook!
Cooking Thinlip Mullet
The meat of the thinlip mullet is white, soft, and tender. The taste and quality of the meat can change depending on where the fish was caught. If it comes from clear waters, it tastes great and can be cooked in many ways. It's especially good grilled with some olive oil and lemon juice. It also tastes delicious as part of a mixed fish stew with boiled potatoes or polenta.
