Mullidæ.

Body elongate, slightly compressed, covered with large scales without or with an extremely fine serrature. Profile of the head more or less parabolic; hyal apparatus with two long barbels. Lateral line continuous. Mouth in front of the snout, with the cleft lateral and rather small. Eye lateral, of moderate size. Four branchiostegals; pseudobranchise. Dentition feeble, more or less complete. Two dorsal fins, remote from each other; anal similar to the second dorsal; ventrals with one spine and five rays. Air-bladder, if present, simple and of variable size; stomach siphonal.

Inhabitants of nearly all the tropical seas, extending in Europe on to the coasts of the temperate region. Some species entering rivers.

Upeneichthys porosus. Port Jackson.

Upeneus signatus. Port Jackson.