Surmullet

Identification

The striped red mullet is a striking fish of 20 to 30 cm with two long barbels on the lower jaw used to probe the seabed for food. The color is spectacular: red to pink with golden-yellow longitudinal stripes. Color fades quickly after death. The first dorsal fin has a prominent dark spot.

Behavior & ecology

Lives on sandy to muddy bottoms in shallow coastal waters. Uses its sensitive barbels to systematically search the bottom for worms, small crustaceans, and shellfish. Can rapidly change color from pale to deep red depending on stress or activity.

In the Netherlands

Until recently a rare visitor, but increasingly found in the southern North Sea due to climate warming. In the Mediterranean, red mullet is one of the most prized table fish and was literally weighed against gold in the Roman Empire.