Chelon ramada (Risso, 1827)

Freyhof, JÖrg, Yoğurtçuoğlu, Baran, Jouladeh-Roudbar, Arash & Kaya, Cüneyt, 2025, Handbook of Freshwater Fishes of West Asia, De Gruyter : 806-807

Chelon ramada

Common name. Thinlip mullet.

Diagnosis. Distinguished from other species of mullets entering freshwaters in Mediterranean, Caspian, and Black Sea basins by: ○ predorsal scales with a single or no longitudinal groove / ○ 24 circumpeduncular scale rows / ● when folded forward, pectoral not reaching eye / ○ posterior angle of preorbital bone rounded / ○ posterior

Biology. Gregarious along coasts, often entering lagoons and estuaries, juveniles readily adapt to freshwater. Lives up to 12 years. Males spawn for the first time at 2 years, females at 3, later in northern areas. Females larger than males. Spawns pelagic in February–April, eggs pelagic. Juveniles of about 20 mm SL move to coastal lagoons and estuaries in April–June, returning to sea in late summer. Juveniles feed on zooplankton; adults mainly on algae and plant detritus.

Conservation status. NT; like almost all Chelons, this species has declined considerably over the last 20 years.

Further reading. Ben Tuvia, in Whitehead et al. 1986 (description); Gandolfi et al. 1991 (biology); Thomson 1997 (systematics); Harrison 2003b (biology).

extremity of upper jaw not reaching anterior rim of eye / ● a black spot at pectoral base / ○ 41–46 scales in lateral series (not including scales on caudal base) / ○ upper lip smooth / ○ without adipose tissue rim around eye / ○ pectoral short, not reaching close to vertical of first dorsal origin. Size up to 545 mm SL.

Distribution. Mediterranean,Black Sea,Azov Sea,and eastern Atlantic from Cape Verde and Senegal to southern Baltic and British Isles (not reaching northern Scotland). Migrates north during summer. Introduced in Lake Kinneret ( Israel).

Habitat. Pelagic inshore, entering lagoons and lower reaches of rivers, often found in polluted waters. Spawns offshore at sea.

Biology. Usually in schools. Males spawn first time at 2–3 years, females at 4 or later. Females slightly larger than males. Spawns several million pelagic eggs in September– December in Mediterranean, April–July along British coast. Juveniles about 20 mm SL move into coastal lagoons and estuaries in autumn, especially in winter. Juveniles feed on zooplankton until about 30 mm SL, then on benthic animals and plants. Adults filter algae and plant detritus.

Conservation status. NT; like almost all Chelon , this species has declined considerably over the last 20 years.

Further reading. Ben Tuvia, in Whitehead et al. 1986 (description); Gandolfi et al. 1991 (biology); Costa Pereira 1995; Thomson 1997 (systematics); Harrison 2003c (biology).

Chelon saliens ; Mediterranean Sea, Spain; ~ 200 mm SL. © shutterstock_2141170165 Ion Mes.