Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
Mullus surmuletus

Mullus surmuletus

9.9
A small brightly colored sea fish with a whisker under its chin found in the Mediterranean and nearby Atlantic waters
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : mullido
  • The Mediterranean coast is home to the Mullus surmuletus, prized for its delicate flavor.

Examples

  • Marine biologists studied the feeding habits of Mullus surmuletus in shallow waters.

  • Fishermen often catch Mullus surmuletus using nets near rocky reefs.

  • The Mullus surmuletus is often found in shallow coastal waters.

  • Have you ever seen a Mullus surmuletus up close?

  • Fishermen often catch Mullus surmuletus using nets near rocky reefs.

  • The Mediterranean coast is home to the Mullus surmuletus, prized for its delicate flavor.

  • Marine biologists studied the feeding habits of Mullus surmuletus in shallow waters.

Synonyms

surmullet
vsMullus surmuletus
9.9

A bright sea fish with two small whiskers on its chin

is a specific species found in the Mediterranean and eastern Atlantic
red mullet
vsMullus surmuletus
6.8

A small red fish with whisker-like feelers that lives in warm seas

is instead the species limited to Mediterranean and eastern Atlantic
goatfish
vsMullus surmuletus
9.2

A brightly colored tropical fish with whisker-like feelers on its chin

is more specific being the single species in Mediterranean and eastern Atlantic

Surface Forms

Mullus surmuletus singular
Mullus surmuletus plural

Morphology

Mullus + surmuletus

This is a Latin taxonomic binomial (a proper name). Even if a learner recognized 'Mullus' as a fish genus, the species epithet 'surmuletus' is not an English word and carries no transparent compositional meaning for a B1 learner. Scientific names are referential labels rather than semantically predictable English MWEs, so the full meaning (striped/red mullet with chin barbels) cannot be derived from the constituents.

Etymology

Mullus surmuletus is the old name fishermen used for the bright red, striped mullet with a small chin 'whisker' that helps it find food. Because this clear picture of red stripes and the chin 'whisker' matched the fish, the name came to mean this particular species of fish today.