Freshwater mullet (Myxus capensis)

Scientific name: Myxus capensis Valenciennes, 1836

The Freshwater mullet (Myxus capensis) is a freshwater fish of the family Mugilidae. Native range: Africa, east coastal estuaries and rivers from the Bre? River to Kosi Bay (South Africa).

Biology

Occur in freshwater to estuarine conditions. Adults breed at sea; juveniles move into estuaries and enter rivers in late winter or early spring. Females remain in freshwater for 7 years, males for 4 years. Return to estuaries before maturing sexually prior to spawning. Oviparous, eggs are pelagic and non-adhesive. Feed on benthic algae and small invertebrates over muddy bottom. Decline in population from obstruction, by dams and weirs, of free passage into rivers.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Myxus capensis
Family
Mugilidae (Mullets)
Order
Mugiliformes (Mullets)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
45.0
Environment
Marine; freshwater; brackish; demersal; catadromous
Climate
Subtropical
Distribution
Africa: east coastal estuaries and rivers from the Bre? River to Kosi Bay (South Africa).
Conservation status (IUCN)
Least Concern (LC)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Uses
Fisheries: commercial; aquarium: commercial
Resilience
Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)

Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

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