Animal Species:Goldspot Mullet, Liza argentea (Quoy & Gaimard, 1825)

The Goldspot Mullet is light brown above, silver below and has dusky coloured dorsal and caudal fins. The eyes of live fish are purple with golden flecks.

Alternative Name/s

Brown-back Mullet, Bull-nose Mullet, Fantail Mullet, Flat-tail Mullet, Flattail Mullet, Gold-gill, Gold-gill Mullet, Jumpin Mullet, Jumping Mullet, Ramsay's Mullet, Rock Mullet, Rockies, Tiger Mullet, Tygum, Tygum Mullet, Wankari

Number of species

Over twenty species of mullet are known from Australian waters.

Identification

The Goldspot Mullet can be separated from the other Australian species by the lack of an axillary process at the base of the pectoral fins and by the number of lateral line scales (35-38) and anal fin rays (10). The species is light brown above, silver below and has dusky coloured dorsal and caudal fins. The eyes of live fish are purple with golden flecks, and the posterior region of the operculum is golden.

Size range

The Goldspot Mullet grows to 30 cm in length.

Distribution

The species is endemic to Australia. It occurs in tropical and temperate waters from northern Queensland, around the south of the country and north to the central coast of Western Australia.

The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums. Click on the map for detailed information.  Source: Atlas of Living Australia.

Liza argentea

Distribution by collection data

Ozcam map of Goldspot Mullet specimens in the Australian Museum.

What does this mean?

Habitat

Juveniles are often found in coastal streams. Adults live in estuaries and along sea beaches.

Classification

Species:
argentea
Genus:
Liza
Family:
Mugilidae
Order:
Mugiliformes
Class:
Actinopterygii
Subphylum:
Vertebrata
Phylum:
Chordata
Kingdom:
Animalia

What does this mean?

References

  1. Allen, G.R. 1989. Freshwater Fishes of Australia. T.F.H. Publications. Pp. 240.
  2. Allen, G.R. 1997. Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and South-east Asia. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 292.
  3. Hoese, D.F., Bray, D.J., Paxton, J.R. & G.R. Allen. 2006. Fishes. In Beesley, P.L. & A. Wells. (eds) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Volume 35. ABRS & CSIRO Publishing: Australia. parts 1-3, pages 1-2178.
  4. Hutchins, B. & R. Swainston. 1986. Sea Fishes of Southern Australia. Complete Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Swainston Publishing. Pp. 180.
  5. Kuiter, R.H. in Gomon, M.F., Glover, C.J.M. & R.H. Kuiter (Eds). 1994. The Fishes of Australia's South Coast. State Print, Adelaide. Pp. 992.
  6. Thomson. J.M. in McDowall, R.M. 1996. Freshwater Fishes of South-Eastern Australia. Reed Books. Pp. 247.

 


Mark McGrouther , Collection Manager, Ichthyology
Last Updated:

Tags Mugilidae, Fishes, Ichthyology, Flat-tail Mullet, Goldspot Mullet, Liza argentea,