Planiliza subviridis (Valenciennes, 1836)
Greenback mullet
Planiliza subviridis
photo by Randall, J.E.

Family:  Mugilidae (Mullets)
Max. size:  40 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; freshwater; brackish; marine; depth range 0 - 5 m, catadromous
Distribution:  Indo-Pacific: Persian Gulf (Ref.80050) and Red Sea to Samoa, north to Japan. Collected at Natal, South Africa (Ref. 11228).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 4-5; Dorsal soft rays (total): 8-9; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 9-9. Dark greenish dorsally, brownish over head, white ventrally; 3-6 indistinct, dark stripes along upper rows of scales; greyish dorsal fins; caudal fin bluish with black margin (Ref. 9812). Yellowish pectoral fin and may have a blue spot at fin origin (Ref. 9812).
Biology:  Form schools in shallow coastal waters and enters lagoons, estuaries, and fresh water to feed (Ref. 9812). Juveniles may enter rice fields and mangroves (Ref. 9812). Feed on small algae, diatoms and benthic detrital material taken in with sand and mud; fry take zooplankton, diatoms, detrital material and inorganic sediment (Ref. 9812). Oviparous, eggs are pelagic and non-adhesive (Ref. 205). Spawning occurs at sea. Also caught with stakenets (Ref. 9812). Marketed fresh and salted.
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 21 August 2020 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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