MUGILIDAE


Moolgarda pedaraki, 22.2 cm SL
(photo by Seishi Kimura)


Moolgarda pedaraki
(Valenciennes, 1836)
Falcate-fin Mullet

D IV+9; A III, 9; P1 17-19; LR 33-37.

Body relatively slender, compressed posteriorly. Head width subequal to depth, flattened dorsally; adipose eyelid weakly developed posteriorly, not covering iris; hind tip of maxilla concealed when mouth closed. Second dorsal and anal fins long and falcate; caudal fin deeply emarginage. Scales cycloid with narrow membranous posterior margin. Color: head and body silvery, darkened dorsally; caudal fin bluish. Size: 50 cm SL, commonly to 20-30 cm SL. Distribution: Indo- Pacific. Remarks: found in shallow coastal waters, and frequently enters estuaries. Feeds on detritus, algae, diatoms, and small crustaceans. Marketed fresh. Mugil buchanani Bleeker, 1854, is a synonym (Senou, 2002).