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Blotched flounder (Asterorhombus intermedius) — Bothidae

Blotched flounder

Asterorhombus intermedius
Family: Bothidae

The Blotched flounder (Asterorhombus intermedius) is a saltwater fish of the family Bothidae that grows up to 20 cm.

Length
20 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
1.0–96.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Range
Asia: Australia, Solomon Is., Sri Lanka, China, Taiwan/Ch Taipei, Fiji and others
Edibility
Commonly eaten

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Description

The blotched flounder is a small flatfish (Bothidae) from coastal waters of the Indo-West Pacific. The species grows to about 20 cm and has an oval, strongly flattened, sand-coloured body with dark blotches and both eyes on the left side; remarkably, it has a lure-like first dorsal-fin ray with which it attracts prey. As a bottom-dweller it lies half-buried on sand and rubble bottoms near reefs and snaps at small crustaceans and small fish. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Blotched flounder?

The Blotched flounder has a flattened, disc-shaped body, is mainly brown and shows a spots pattern.

Where does the Blotched flounder live?

The Blotched flounder lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground. Asia: Australia, Solomon Is., Sri Lanka, China, Taiwan/Ch Taipei, Fiji and others

How big does the Blotched flounder get?

The Blotched flounder grows to a maximum of about 20 cm.

Is the Blotched flounder dangerous to humans?

No, the Blotched flounder is harmless to humans. This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status.

Is the Blotched flounder edible?

Yes, the Blotched flounder is commonly eaten.

More photos

Blotched flounder (Asterorhombus intermedius) — Bothidae — 2
Indiana Riley (CC BY 4.0) via GBIF — AM
Blotched flounder (Asterorhombus intermedius) — Bothidae — 3
P.C. Heemstra (CC BY 4.0) via GBIF — SAIAB
Blotched flounder (Asterorhombus intermedius) — Bothidae — 4
Wikimedia Commons — Izuzuki (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Blotched flounder (Asterorhombus intermedius) — Bothidae — 5
iNaturalist ((c) Mark Rosenstein, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Fin

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All data

Identification

English name
Blotched flounder sourced
Scientific name
Asterorhombus intermedius
Family
Bothidae
Other names
Intermediate flounder; Large-scale flounder; Rug-body flounder verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
20.0 verified
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Pattern
Spots sourced
Tail shape
Rounded inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
1.0 verified
Max depth (m)
96.0 verified
Natural range
Asia: Australia, Solomon Is., Sri Lanka, China, Taiwan/Ch Taipei, Fiji and others sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore inferred
Diet (detail)
Small fishes, crustaceans and invertebrates inferred
Social behaviour
Solitary inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known. inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten inferred
Fishing method
Fishing with natural bait (fish, shrimp, worm) or lures close to reef and rock structures. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified
First aid
This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status. verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

More from the family Bothidae

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