Flathead grey mullet
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An illustration based on the real animal.
A little discovery to share.
The Japanese names for the flathead grey mullet change as it grows.
THE REAL WORLD
The real Flathead grey mullet
- Scientific name
- Mugil cephalus
- Japanese name
- ボラ
- Group
- Ocean animals
- Order
- Mugiliformes
- Family
- Mugilidae
- Genus
- Mugil
A fish of shallow water near the shore and calm bays. Young ones travel up rivers in schools, and it can be seen even in cities.
Seen from the front, its mouth is shaped like an upside-down V. It moves its upper lip in and out to eat fine algae and other bits from rock surfaces and mud.
It often leaps out of the water. Scientists are not yet sure why it jumps so often.
How the Flathead grey mullet lives
It feeds both day and night. It swings its head from side to side as it eats. During the spawning season from autumn to winter, it travels offshore.
University of Michigan Animal Diversity Web葛西臨海水族園Basic data
- Size
- Total length: 80 cmLength: up to 120 cm葛西臨海水族園University of Michigan Animal Diversity Web
- Weight
- up to 8 kgUniversity of Michigan Animal Diversity Web
- Lifespan
- up to 13 years in the wild, 4–7 years in the wildUniversity of Michigan Animal Diversity Web
- Active
- By day and by nightUniversity of Michigan Animal Diversity Web
- Diet
- Organic matter and algae in mud葛西臨海水族園
- Range
- Temperate and tropical waters worldwide葛西臨海水族園
Where the Flathead grey mullet has been recorded
Records: GBIF.org (CC0 and CC BY 4.0 records, retrieved 2026-11-07). Map: Natural EarthSee the records on GBIF
Watch wild animals from a distance. Do not touch or feed them, and take care of the places where they live.
Names around the world
- 日本語
- ボラ
- 简体中文
- 鲻鱼
- 繁體中文
- 鯔魚
- 한국어
- 숭어
- Español
- Mújol
- Français
- Carida
- Deutsch
- Großkopfmeeräsche
- Português (Brasil)
- Taínha-olhalvo
- Italiano
- Cefalo
- العربية
- بوري الرأس المفلطح
- Bahasa Indonesia
- Belanak abu-abu
- Tiếng Việt
- Cá đối đầu dẹt
- Русский
- Лобан
- Türkçe
- Kefal
- ไทย
- ปลากระบอกเทา
- বাংলা
- চ্যাপ্টামাথা খরোল
Names come from Wikidata and iNaturalist records. Where a language has no recorded name, we use the scientific name.
Sources and how we check
- 葛西臨海水族園 — ボラChecked: 2026-11-03
- University of Michigan Animal Diversity Web — Mugil cephalusChecked: 2026-11-03
We check each fact against its source. The illustrations simplify how the real animal looks.
The classification (class, order, family, genus) follows Wikidata records, checked against GBIF. Classifications can change as research goes on.
The basic data are the values given in each source. They vary with how the animal is measured, whether it is male or female, and whether it lives in the wild or in captivity.
This page was translated from the original Japanese with the help of AI.
Report a mistakeWhen you meet the Flathead grey mullet, look for this
- Look for the tiny teeth lining the inside of its lips.
Animals do different things from day to day, so you may not always see this.
葛西臨海水族園EXHIBIT INFORMATION
Places that keep or show the Flathead grey mullet
Zoos, aquariums and other places whose official websites say they keep or show this animal.
Kanto
Displays can change with the animals’ health and the seasons. Check each facility’s official website before you go.
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