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. 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).