Fish
Red Mullet
Mullus surmuletus · also called striped red mullet, surmullet
Over a sandy bay in the Mediterranean, a red mullet drags its two long chin barbels through the sand, tasting for worms and shrimps hidden below.
Overview
The red mullet, Mullus surmuletus, is a Least Concern goatfish of sandy and muddy bottoms from the British Isles to West Africa and the Mediterranean. Its barbels, colour, and long history as a luxury food make it one of the best-known fish of southern European seas.
A fish with a feel for the bottom
The red mullet’s barbels are packed with taste receptors, so it can detect buried prey without needing to see it, turning over the sand like a fishing dog.
Status
Least Concern, widespread and common.
Red Mullet: common questions
What are the whiskers on a red mullet?
They are two long, sensitive barbels under its chin, which it sweeps and probes over the sea bed to feel and taste for food.
Why was the red mullet prized by the Romans?
It was a luxury food, and wealthy Romans paid very high prices for large fish and watched their colours change as they died.
Is the red mullet really red?
It is red to pinkish-red, with yellow stripes along its sides, and can change from pale to deep red depending on mood and surroundings.
Where is the red mullet found?
It lives on sandy and muddy bottoms of the north-eastern Atlantic, from the British Isles to West Africa, and in the Mediterranean.