Status of the Mountain Mullet in Southern Florida
Loftus WF, Kushlan JA, Voorhees SA. 1984. Status of the Mountain Mullet in Southern Florida. Florida Scientist. 47(1):256-264
A report that documents and summarizes the range, size distribution, and habitat occurrence of the mountain mullet in southern Florida. The mountain mullet (Agonostomus monticola) is a rare component of the Florida ichthyofauna. Until recently, record~ for the southern half of the peninsula were nearly nonexistent. We document and summarize the range, size distribution, and habitat occurrence of the mountain mullet in southern Florida. Florida populations are characterized by low numbers of small individuals that are probably recruited from the West Indies via surface ocean currents. Its rarity in southern Florida seems due to the absence of suitable freshwater stream habitats. Mountain mullet persistently occur in southern Florida in an artifically maintained stream with access to salt water. We collected 5 mountain mullet from this population, including the largest documented United States specimen. We also observed additional adult-sized mullet there. Based on current understanding of the life history of A. monticola, we discuss the possibility that Parrot Jungle may hold the first breeding population for the United States.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Loftus, William; Kushlan, James; Voorhees, Scott
- Units
- SFCN
- Keywords
- Breeding Population, Distribution, Habitat, Ichthyofauna, occurance, Parrot Jungle