{{Short description|Species of fish}} {{Speciesbox | image = Lisa de cola cuadrada (Ellochelon vaigiensis), islas Ad Dimaniyat, Omán, 2024-08-16, DD 52.jpg | status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1 | status_ref = <ref name = IUCN>{{cite journal | author1 = Freyhof, J. | author2 = Sparks, J.S. | name-list-style = amp | year = 2017 | title = ''Ellochelon vaigiensis'' | journal = [[The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species]] | volume = 2017 | page = e.T197054A96231220 | doi = 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T197054A96231220.en | doi-access = free }}</ref> | taxon = Ellochelon vaigiensis | parent_authority = [[Gilbert Percy Whitley|Whitley]], 1930 | authority = ([[Jean René Constant Quoy|Quoy]] & [[Joseph Paul Gaimard|Gaimard]], 1825) | synonyms = *''Mugil vaigiensis'' <small>Quoy & Gaimard, 1825</small> *''Chelon vaigiensis'' <small>(Quoy & Gaimard, 1825)</small> *''Liza vaigiensis'' <small>(Quoy & Gaimard, 1825)</small> *''Mugil macrolepidotus'' <small>[[Eduard Rüppell|Rüppell]], 1830</small> *''Mugil melanochir'' <small>[[Achille Valenciennes|Valenciennes]], 1836</small> *''Mugil rossii'' <small>[[Pieter Bleeker|Bleeker]], 1854</small> *''Mugil tegobuan'' <small>[[Xavier Montrouzier|Montrouzier]], 1857</small> *''Mugil occidentalis'' <small>[[Francis de Laporte de Castelnau|Castelnau]], 1873</small> *''Mugil ventricosus'' <small>Castelnau, 1875</small> *''Mugil delicatus'' <small>Jouan, 1878</small> | synonyms_ref = <ref name = FishBase>{{FishBase|Ellochelon|vaigiensis|jine|2018}}</ref> }}
The '''squaretail mullet''' ('''''Ellochelon vaigiensis'''''), also known as the '''diamondscale mullet''', is a species of [[Mullet (fish)|grey mullet]] from the [[Family (taxonomy)|family]] [[Mugilidae]]. It is an Indo-Pacific species and is the only species in the [[Monotypy|monospecific]] [[genus]] ''Ellochelon''.<ref name = FishBase/>
==Description== The squaretail mullet is olive-brown on its back with silvery flanks and a white or yellowish belly. It has six longitudinal stripes along its sides which are formed by darker longitudinal markings on the scales which also have darkened edges creating a slight chequered appearance on the flanks. The iris has yellow patches. The fins have dark margins which contrasts with their mainly yellowish cast but the [[caudal fin]] is obviously yellow and in smaller specimens the [[pectoral fin]] is totally black but the lower part becomes yellowish in older fish.<ref name = FishBase/>
==Distribution== The squaretail mullet occurs from the [[Red Sea]] and the coast of East Africa, as far south as Mozambique, eastwards through the [[Indo-pacific]] to [[New Caledonia]] and the [[Great Barrier Reef]] and north to southern Japan.<ref name = IUCN/><ref>{{Cite book |last=Jennings |first=G. H. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yDXjH6kJ0CkC&dq=Squaretail+mullet&pg=PA107-IA2 |title=The Sea and Freshwater Fishes of Australia & New Guinea |date=1997 |publisher=Calypso Publications |isbn=978-0-906301-62-3 |language=en}}</ref>
==Habitat and biology== The squaretail mullet can be found in lagoons, estuaries, sheltered sandy shorelines and coastal creeks and can enter freshwater, having been found up to {{convert|10|km|miles}} up rivers, although they normally do not move further inland than the influence of the tides. They can form large aggregations among mangroves and the juveniles are frequently recorded in rice paddies and mangroves.<ref name = FishBase/> They feed on [[phytoplankton]], [[algae]] and [[detritus]]. Spawning is at sea,<ref name = FoA>{{cite web | author = Dianne J. Bray | title = ''Liza vaigiensis'' | work = Fishes of Australia | access-date = 30 Oct 2018 | url = http://fishesofaustralia.net.au/Home/species/4420 | publisher = Museums Victoria}}</ref> and the eggs are pelagic and do not adhere to objects.<ref name = FishBase/>
==Human utilisation== The smaller fish are caught for use as bait fish.<ref name = FishBase/> It is also locally used as a food fish being marketed fresh; its roe is also sold and eaten. It is fished for using [[beach seine]]s, [[gillnet]]s, [[cast net]]s and stake nets.<ref name = IUCN/>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{SealifePhotos|218878}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q28746239}}
[[Category:Mugilidae]] [[Category:Fish described in 1825]]