Common Sultan

The body is elongated and compressed from the sides, up to 30 cm long ^[2] , usually 10–20 cm. The dorsal and anal fins are short, the caudal fins are fork. The head is large with a sharply drooping, almost vertical snout and high-set eyes. The small, placed in the lower part of the head, mouth is supplied with small teeth-bristles, two long antennae hang from the chin. The body is unevenly colored red, the belly is silvery, light yellow fins.

The common sultan lives near the sea coasts, usually at shallow depths - 15–30 meters, although it comes across at a depth of 100–300 meters. Sultans keep flocks at the bottom and never rise into the water column. They prefer soft, silty or sandy soil, but are also found on the coquina and rocky bottom. Their long antennae help sultan to find food: the fish slowly moves at the very bottom and carefully “feels” its surface with antennae in search of small bottom animals. It feeds on invertebrates.

Sexual maturity reaches the second or third year of life. Spawning - from May to August at depths from 10 to 55 meters near muddy or sandy bottom. Each female spawns a few servings of caviar, the total fecundity for the season is from 3.6 to 88 thousand eggs. The scaled and fertilized caviar rises in the upper layers of water and after 3.5-2.5 days, depending on the temperature, the larvae leave it. The young feed on small animals by organisms of the water column and are masked from predators by a silvery, bluish-green color. Approximately 1.5-2 months after hatching, the fry approach the shores and, having reached a length of 4-6 centimeters, sink to the bottom and acquire the appearance and coloring typical for adult fish.

Adult red mullets approach the shores in the spring and stay here until winter, sometimes they come across in the mouths of rivers. In winter, fish migrate to great depths. Life expectancy - 10-12 years, in the first summer of their life can reach a length of 4 to 12 cm, depending on the timing of spawning.

There are two subspecies

• Mullus barbatus barbatus (1728)
• Mullus barbatus ponticus (1927)

Sultan is spread along the east coast of the Atlantic (from Great Britain and, partly, Scandinavia to Dakar), near the Canary Islands and the Azores, in the Mediterranean, Black and Azov Seas (the last two are inhabited by Mullus barbatus ponticus ).

The red mullet is delicious and delicate fish to taste, the meat is distinguished by its exceptional taste. It is also appreciated for its special fat - it is very gentle, distinctive in taste and has a wonderful aroma. Enjoyed very great popularity in ancient Rome. According to the legend, large sultanas were paid with an equal amount of silver by weight.

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  A flock of goatfish in the Black Sea

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  Red mullet in the market