South African mullet

Chelon richardsonii

Mugilid Fish from African Waters

Tropical
Coastal
Regional distribution
Atlantic Ocean
Africa
Fusiform
Medium
Tropical fish

The South African mullet (Chelon richardsonii), also called a harder mullet or simply harder, is a species of mullet. It is found in South African coastal waters from Walvis Bay (Namibia) to KwaZulu-Natal, and grows to a maximum length of 40.5 cm (15.9 in). The person the specific name honours was not recorded by Andrew Smith when he described this species but it is most likely to be John Richardson (1787-1865), the Scottish naturalist, surgeon and Arctic explorer.

Class: Teleosts
Order: Mullets and Glassfishes
Family: Mugilidae
Genus: Chelon
Maximum length: 40.5 cm
Body shape: fusiform
Distribution: Southeast Atlantic: South African coastal waters from Walfish Bay to Natal.

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