Home · Pleuronectidae · Comb flounder
Comb flounder (Marleyella bicolorata) — Pleuronectidae

Comb flounder

Marleyella bicolorata

The Comb flounder (Marleyella bicolorata) is a saltwater fish of the family Pleuronectidae that grows up to 19 cm.

Length
19 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
20.0–406.0 m
Behaviour
Solitary
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Range
Africa: India, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania

Want the complete picture on the Comb flounder?

Get the app

Description

The comb flounder is a small lefteye flounder (Bothidae) from coastal waters of the western Indian Ocean, off southeastern Africa. The species grows to about 19 cm and has an oval, strongly flattened body with both eyes on the left side and a two-toned, brown-mottled pattern that camouflages it on the bottom. As a bottom-dweller it lies half-buried on sand and mud bottoms and snaps at small crustaceans and worms. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Comb flounder?

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

Where does the Comb flounder live?

The Comb flounder lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom. Africa: India, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania

How big does the Comb flounder get?

The Comb flounder grows to a maximum of about 19 cm.

Is the Comb flounder dangerous to humans?

No, the Comb 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.

More photos

Comb flounder (Marleyella bicolorata) — Pleuronectidae — 2
SAIAB (CC BY 4.0) via GBIF — SAIAB
Fin

Want the complete picture on the Comb flounder?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Comb flounder is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Get the app →

All data

Identification

English name
Comb flounder sourced
Scientific name
Marleyella bicolorata
Family
Pleuronectidae
Other names
Comb flounder verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
19.0 verified
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Pattern
Marbled sourced
Tail shape
Rounded inferred
Mouth position
Superior (upward) sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
20.0 verified
Max depth (m)
406.0 verified
Natural range
Africa: India, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

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

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 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 Pleuronectidae

Fin

Want the complete picture on the Comb flounder?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Comb flounder is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Get the app →
Is this the Comb flounder? Get the app