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Wide-eyed flounder (Bothus podas) — Bothidae

Wide-eyed flounder

Bothus podas
Family: Bothidae
LC · Least Concern

The Wide-eyed flounder (Bothus podas) is a saltwater fish of the family Bothidae that grows up to 45 cm.

Length
45 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
15.0–400.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Rarely eaten

Description

The wide-eyed flounder is a small, left-eyed flatfish of the family Bothidae reaching about 45 cm. It is characterised by widely spaced eyes, set further apart in males than females. The eyed side is light brown with dark spots that adapt to the substrate, while the blind side is white. The long dorsal fin runs around the edge of the body. The species lives on sand and mud bottoms of the continental shelf in the eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean at depths of 15 to 400 m, feeding on small bottom fishes and invertebrates. The wide-eyed flounder has little commercial value.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Wide-eyed flounder?

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

Where does the Wide-eyed flounder live?

The Wide-eyed flounder lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Wide-eyed flounder get?

The Wide-eyed flounder grows to a maximum of about 45 cm. On average the species is around 13 cm.

Is the Wide-eyed flounder dangerous to humans?

No, the Wide-eyed flounder is harmless to humans.

Is the Wide-eyed flounder edible?

The Wide-eyed flounder is rarely eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Wijdoogbot verified
English name
Wide-eyed flounder verified
Scientific name
Bothus podas
Family
Bothidae
Other names
Wide-eyed flounder verified

Appearance

Size class
Large verified
Max length (cm)
45.0 verified
Average length (cm)
13.0 verified
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Pattern
Spots sourced
Tail shape
Rounded sourced
Mouth position
Terminal inferred
Lips
Thin inferred
Barbels
No verified
Dorsal fins
One continuous sourced
Dorsal spines
No verified

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
15.0 verified
Max depth (m)
400.0 verified
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore verified
Social behaviour
Solitary verified
Territorial
No verified
Activity
Diurnal sourced
Reproduction
Separate sexes verified
Sexual dimorphism
Yes sourced
levensduur_max_jaar
6.0 verified

For anglers

Edibility
Rarely eaten verified
Fishing method
Bodemvissen met natuurlijk aas (worm, garnaal of vis) op of vlak boven de bodem. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced

Status & sources

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

Same genus Bothus

More from the family Bothidae

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