Yellow-eye mullet
Encyclopedia
The yellow-eye mullet, Aldrichetta forsteri, is a mullet
of the family
Mugilidae
, the only species
in the genus Aldrichetta. It is found around New Zealand
, the Chatham Islands
, and southern Australia
, from the surface to depths of 50 m. Its length is between 20 and 40 cm.
The yellow-eye mullet is similar to the flathead mullet
but has a more pointed snout and does as large a size. It has a larger mouth than the flathead mullet and the teeth are larger and more numerous.
The yellow-eye mullet schools in large numbers in summer and enters bay
s and estuaries, but does not usually enter fresh water
.
The back is olive-green, and silver, usually with a yellow tinge, on the belly. As its common name suggests the eyes are a distinctive bright yellow.
Yellow-eyed mullets are easily distinguished from other coastal fish
by their bright yellow eyes. In New Zealand it is known as the herring. They are also commonly called the sand mullet.
They grow to about forty centimeters and about one kilogram. They are found in sandy beaches, jetties, and estuaries. The meat of this fish is extremely rich in omega three fatty acids.
They feed on small animals such as sandworms and small cockles. Occasionally large schools can be seen feeding on the surface. They can live up to seven years.
They have a low habitat damage rate.
They don’t usually enter fresh water, and are very nice smoked, however, the black lining surrounding the stomach should be removed before cooking.
Mullet (fish)
The mullets or grey mullets are a family and order of ray-finned fish found worldwide in coastal temperate and tropical waters, and in some species in fresh water. Mullets have served as an important source of food in Mediterranean Europe since Roman times...
of the family
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
Mugilidae
Mullet (fish)
The mullets or grey mullets are a family and order of ray-finned fish found worldwide in coastal temperate and tropical waters, and in some species in fresh water. Mullets have served as an important source of food in Mediterranean Europe since Roman times...
, the only species
Monotypic
In biology, a monotypic taxon is a taxonomic group with only one biological type. The term's usage differs slightly between botany and zoology. The term monotypic has a separate use in conservation biology, monotypic habitat, regarding species habitat conversion eliminating biodiversity and...
in the genus Aldrichetta. It is found around New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, the Chatham Islands
Chatham Islands
The Chatham Islands are an archipelago and New Zealand territory in the Pacific Ocean consisting of about ten islands within a radius, the largest of which are Chatham Island and Pitt Island. Their name in the indigenous language, Moriori, means Misty Sun...
, and southern Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, from the surface to depths of 50 m. Its length is between 20 and 40 cm.
The yellow-eye mullet is similar to the flathead mullet
Flathead mullet
The flathead mullet, Mugil cephalus, is a mullet of the genus Mugil, found in coastal tropical and subtropical waters worldwide. Its length is typically 30 to 75 centimeters...
but has a more pointed snout and does as large a size. It has a larger mouth than the flathead mullet and the teeth are larger and more numerous.
The yellow-eye mullet schools in large numbers in summer and enters bay
Bay
A bay is an area of water mostly surrounded by land. Bays generally have calmer waters than the surrounding sea, due to the surrounding land blocking some waves and often reducing winds. Bays also exist as an inlet in a lake or pond. A large bay may be called a gulf, a sea, a sound, or a bight...
s and estuaries, but does not usually enter fresh water
Fresh Water
Fresh Water is the debut album by Australian rock and blues singer Alison McCallum, released in 1972. Rare for an Australian artist at the time, it came in a gatefold sleeve...
.
The back is olive-green, and silver, usually with a yellow tinge, on the belly. As its common name suggests the eyes are a distinctive bright yellow.
Yellow-eyed mullets are easily distinguished from other coastal fish
Coastal fish
Coastal fish, also called offshore fish or neritic fish, are fish that inhabit the sea between the shoreline and the edge of the continental shelf. Since the continental shelf is usually less than 200 metres deep, it follows that pelagic coastal fish are generally epipelagic fish, inhabiting the...
by their bright yellow eyes. In New Zealand it is known as the herring. They are also commonly called the sand mullet.
They grow to about forty centimeters and about one kilogram. They are found in sandy beaches, jetties, and estuaries. The meat of this fish is extremely rich in omega three fatty acids.
They feed on small animals such as sandworms and small cockles. Occasionally large schools can be seen feeding on the surface. They can live up to seven years.
They have a low habitat damage rate.
They don’t usually enter fresh water, and are very nice smoked, however, the black lining surrounding the stomach should be removed before cooking.