Sea Life of the Mar Menor

Some of the largest you are likely to Leaping Sand Smelt see in the Mar Menor are mullet. Mullet Liza saliens The Flathead Mullet is a cigar shaped fish Atherina hepsetus may be seen both in the shallows and in Normal Max Size: 70 cm with a flattened head and thin lips. It is a Normal Max Size: 20 cm deeper water; many are about 30 cm long. very common mullet and has many Most smelt in the shallows of the Mar A number of different varieties of mullet different common names. It is sometimes Menor are between 5-10 cm long. may be found the in the Mar Menor. known as the Grey Mullet, Common Grey Behaviour: social found in shoals Mullet, Black Mullet, Striped Mullet, Bully Golden Grey Mullet Mullet or Mangrove Mullet depending Liza aurata upon which country it is found in. Normal Max Size: 50 cm Mullet are social fish and are normally found in large shoals. They feed on small organisms, which they suck up from rocks or out of the sand or mud at the bottom of the water. Most of what they eat is termed “detritus”, which consists of dead Flathead Mullet or decaying and plant matter and cephalus faeces, yummy! They will also eat inset Normal Max Size: 70 cm larvae, plankton, worms and other crustaceans. Young eat water fleas and other tiny organisms. Adults eat small crustaceans, Thinlip Mullet Most mullet are good to eat, however they worms, molluscs and fish larvae. Liza ramado must be consumed when fresh (within 24 Normal Max Size: 40 cm hours of capture) as they quickly spoil. Many young smelt end up as lunch for other larger fish! At the other end of the spectrum the smallest fish in the Mar Menor is probably As you can see from the picture Sand the smelt. Virtually transparent and with Smelt have small heads and large eyes. large eyes, these are very attractive fish They also have a silver strip that runs that swim in large shoals close to the down the body. surface. Lesley Singleton AQUA ADICTA

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