Planiliza subviridis (Valenciennes, 1836)

Freyhof, JÖrg, Yoğurtçuoğlu, Baran, Jouladeh-Roudbar, Arash & Kaya, Cüneyt, 2025, Handbook of Freshwater Fishes of West Asia, De Gruyter : 811

Planiliza subviridis

Common name. Greenback mullet.

Diagnosis. Distinguished from other species of mullets in Persian Gulf basin and coasts of Arabian Peninsula by: ● preorbital bone not filling space between lip and eye / ○ back rounded, not keeled in front of first dorsal / ○ 27–32 total scales along lateral midline / ○ caudal emarginate or truncate / ○ without adipose tissue rim around eye / ○ pectoral short, not reaching close to vertical of first dorsal origin / ○ anterior margin of preorbital bone strongly concave, tip blunt. Size up to 260 mm SL.

Distribution. Persian Gulf east to India, China, northern Australia, and Polynesia. Recorded from lower Shatt al Arab/Arvand and Hammar marshes.

Habitat. Large estuarine areas, lagoons, marshes, and lower reaches of rivers, often found in polluted waters.

Biology. Gregarious. Lives up to five years. Spawns first time at 1 year and about 100 mm SL. Spawns at sea at 14–18°C in December–April ( Kuwait Bay). Juveniles enter estuaries and freshwaters to feed. Highest growth rate and food conversion efficiency at 15 ‰ salinity under experimental conditions. Feeds mainly on detritus, algae, phytoplankton, and zooplankton.

Conservation status. VU; appears to be in steady decline due to overfishing.

Remarks. Often identified as Liza carinata .

Further reading. Senou et al. 1987 (identification, distribution); Thomson 1997 (description, biology, distribution).

Habitat. Coastal waters, lagoons, marshes, estuaries, and lower reaches of rivers. Spawns at sea.

Biology. Gregarious. Lives up to 6 years. Spawns first time at about 120 mm SL. Spawns February–April in Shatt al Arab/ Arvand, March–April, often June, offshore in Persian Gulf. After spawning, adults and juveniles migrate to brackish and fresh waters. Feeds mainly on algae, detritus, plants, and plankton.

Conservation status. LC.

Remarks. Sometimes identified as Liza dussumieri in Persian Gulf basin.

Further reading. Thomson 1997 (description, biology, distribution).