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Brown flounder (Arnoglossus aspilos) — Bothidae

Brown flounder

Arnoglossus aspilos
Family: Bothidae
LC · Least Concern

The Brown flounder (Arnoglossus aspilos) is a saltwater fish of the family Bothidae that grows up to 19 cm.

Length
19 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
30.0–71.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Range
Indo-West Pacific
Edibility
Not eaten

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Description

The spotless lefteye flounder is a small left-eyed flatfish from the Indo-West Pacific. The species grows to about 19 cm and has the typical, strongly asymmetric flatfish body with both eyes on the left side and a plain brown upper side without conspicuous spots. As a bottom-dweller it lies buried in sandy and muddy bottoms and ambushes small bottom animals. The fish is harmless to humans and is assessed as Least Concern (LC) by the IUCN.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Brown flounder?

The Brown flounder has a flattened, disc-shaped body, is mainly brown and shows a plain pattern. Left-eyed flatfish with a uniformly brown upper side; buried ambush predator

Where does the Brown flounder live?

The Brown flounder lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom. Indo-West Pacific

How big does the Brown flounder get?

The Brown flounder grows to a maximum of about 19 cm. On average the species is around 8 cm.

Is the Brown flounder dangerous to humans?

No, the Brown 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 Brown flounder edible?

The Brown flounder is not usually eaten.

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All data

Identification

English name
Brown flounder verified
Scientific name
Arnoglossus aspilos
Family
Bothidae
Other names
Spotless lefteye flounder verified

Appearance

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

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
30.0 verified
Max depth (m)
71.0 verified
Natural range
Indo-West Pacific verified
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Diet (detail)
Small benthic invertebrates and crustaceans inferred
Social behaviour
Solitary sourced
Territorial
No sourced
Activity
Nocturnal sourced
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No sourced
Seasonality
Burrowing flatfish on soft bottom; present year-round. sourced
Special features
Left-eyed flatfish with a uniformly brown upper side; buried ambush predator sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Not eaten sourced
Fishing method
Bottom fishing with natural bait (worm, shrimp or fish) on or just above the seabed. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced
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

Same genus Arnoglossus

More from the family Bothidae

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