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Diamond turbot (Hypsopsetta guttulata) — Pleuronectidae

Diamond turbot

Hypsopsetta guttulata

The Diamond turbot (Hypsopsetta guttulata) is a saltwater fish of the family Pleuronectidae that grows up to 46 cm.

Length
46 cm
Water
Saltwater
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Flatfish
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Range
Eastern Pacific, from California to Baja California.
Edibility
Rarely eaten

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Description

The diamond turbot is a flatfish (family Pleuronectidae) of the eastern Pacific, from California to Baja California. The species owes its name to its deep, diamond-shaped body and grows to about 46 cm. Both eyes lie on the brown upper side, which is often speckled with small blue spots; the underside is white. It lives on soft sand and mud bottoms in shallow coastal waters and bays and tolerates brackish estuaries. With its mouth it digs up small bottom animals such as worms and molluscs. The species is fished occasionally and is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Diamond turbot?

The Diamond turbot has a flatfish-shaped body, is mainly brown and shows a spots pattern. Deep, diamond-shaped flatfish body with blue spots on the upper side.

Where does the Diamond turbot live?

The Diamond turbot lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom. Eastern Pacific, from California to Baja California.

How big does the Diamond turbot get?

The Diamond turbot grows to a maximum of about 46 cm.

Is the Diamond turbot dangerous to humans?

No, the Diamond turbot 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 Diamond turbot edible?

The Diamond turbot is rarely eaten.

More photos

Diamond turbot (Hypsopsetta guttulata) — Pleuronectidae — 2
iNaturalist ((c) jleisen, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Diamond turbot (Hypsopsetta guttulata) — Pleuronectidae — 3
iNaturalist ((c) Andrew Newmark, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Diamond turbot (Hypsopsetta guttulata) — Pleuronectidae — 4
iNaturalist ((c) Lisa Biasillo, some rights reserved (CC BY))
Diamond turbot (Hypsopsetta guttulata) — Pleuronectidae — 5
Ezra Patricelli (CC BY-NC 4.0) via GBIF — iNaturalist
Fin

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All data

Identification

English name
Diamond turbot sourced
Scientific name
Hypsopsetta guttulata
Family
Pleuronectidae

Appearance

Size class
Large
Max length (cm)
46.0 sourced
Body shape
Flatfish sourced
Dominant colour
Brown inferred
Pattern
Spots inferred
Tail shape
Rounded inferred
Mouth position
Terminal inferred
Lips
Thin inferred
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous inferred
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Natural range
Eastern Pacific, from California to Baja California. inferred
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Diet (detail)
Benthic worms and shellfish sourced
Social behaviour
Solitary inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Diurnal inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred
Seasonality
Spawns in the cooler months in shallow coastal water. inferred
Special features
Deep, diamond-shaped flatfish body with blue spots on the upper side. sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Rarely eaten sourced
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

More from the family Pleuronectidae

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