Barred flagtail
Kuhlia mugil
Valid name (FishBase; confirmed in Eschmeyer's Catalog of Fishes and WoRMS, October 2026).
- English
- Barred flagtail
- Scientific
- Kuhlia mugil
- Dhivehi
- ކަށްޓަފުޅިKattafulhi
- Group
- Reef fish
- Family
- Kuhliidae (flagtails)
- Maximum size
- Up to about 40 cm (standard length); commonly 20 cm (FishBase); MRS 1997 gives max. 20 cm
- Depth and habitat
- Coral reefs and reef-associated habitats, recorded from 3 to 18 m; also enters brackish water
- IUCN status
- LC · Least ConcernLeast Concern (LC), assessed 2011
Description
A silvery fish with a dark snout tip and a white tail boldly crossed by five black bands. It forms tightly packed schools along reef margins and rocky shores, just below the breaking surf, and young fish are common in tide pools. It feeds at night on free-swimming crustaceans and small fish.
In the Maldives
Dhivehi name kattafulhi (MRS 1997). MRS notes it is not at all shy and schools by day in shallow lagoons, often around jetties.
Sources
- fishbase.se /summary/Kuhlia-mugil.html
- fao.org /4/AD471E/AD471E00.htm
- dv.wikipedia.org /wiki/ކަށްޓަފުޅި
- commons.wikimedia.org /wiki/File:Kuhlia_mugil_Kasai_aquarium_1.jpg
Dhivehi name source: M.R.S. (1997) Fishes of the Maldives (FAO/BOBP MAG/21) gives 'Kattafulhi' (Latin form). Thaana from the Dhivehi Wikipedia article 'ކަށްޓަފުޅި' (derived from the MRS 1997 Dhivehi edition); it matches the Latin form. FishBase also lists 'Kattaphuli', 'Mullan' under India (Minicoy/Lakshadweep Mahl dialect); not used.