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Indian halibut (Psettodes erumei) — Psettodidae

Indian halibut

Psettodes erumei
Family: Psettodidae
DD · Data Deficient

The Indian halibut (Psettodes erumei) is a saltwater fish of the family Psettodidae that grows up to 64 cm.

Length
64 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
1.0–100.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Range
Indo-West Pacific from the Red Sea and East Africa to Japan and Australia; sandy and muddy bottoms of coastal waters.
Edibility
Commonly eaten

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Description

The Indian halibut (Psettodes erumei) is a flatfish of the Indo-West Pacific, from the Red Sea and East Africa to Japan and Australia. It grows to 64 centimetres and lives on sand and mud bottoms, usually at 20-50 metres. The body is oval and flat but thicker than that of most flatfishes, and in this primitive flatfish group the eyes occur on either the left or the right side. The fish is brown or grey with four broad dark crossbars and black fin tips. It is a decided piscivore with a large mouth. The species is a valued commercial fish, sold mainly fresh.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Indian halibut?

The Indian halibut has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly brown and shows a vertical stripes pattern. Primitive flatfish with spines in the dorsal fin and eyes that can lie on either the left or the right side; four dark vertical bars.

Where does the Indian halibut live?

The Indian halibut lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom. Indo-West Pacific from the Red Sea and East Africa to Japan and Australia; sandy and muddy bottoms of coastal waters.

How big does the Indian halibut get?

The Indian halibut grows to a maximum of about 64 cm. On average the species is around 50 cm.

Is the Indian halibut dangerous to humans?

No, the Indian halibut is harmless to humans. None required: this species is harmless to humans.

Is the Indian halibut edible?

Yes, the Indian halibut is commonly eaten.

More photos

Indian halibut (Psettodes erumei) — Psettodidae — 2
Williams, Jeffrey T. (CC0 1.0) via GBIF — USNM
Indian halibut (Psettodes erumei) — Psettodidae — 3
Williams, Jeffrey T. (CC0 1.0) via GBIF — USNM
Indian halibut (Psettodes erumei) — Psettodidae — 4
iNaturalist ((c) sjonkel, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Indian halibut (Psettodes erumei) — Psettodidae — 5
Wikimedia Commons — Sir Francis Day (Public domain)
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All data

Identification

English name
Indian halibut verified
Scientific name
Psettodes erumei
Family
Psettodidae
Other names
Adalah; Australian halibut; False halibut; Flounder; Halibut; Indian spiny turbot; Queensland halibut; Indian turbot; Pacific halibut; Spiny turbot; Tropical halibut verified

Appearance

Size class
Large verified
Max length (cm)
64.0 verified
Average length (cm)
50 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Brown verified
Pattern
Vertical bars verified
Tail shape
Rounded sourced
Mouth position
Terminal sourced
Lips
Thin inferred
Barbels
No verified
Dorsal fins
One continuous verified
Dorsal spines
Yes verified

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
1.0 verified
Max depth (m)
100.0 verified
Natural range
Indo-West Pacific from the Red Sea and East Africa to Japan and Australia; sandy and muddy bottoms of coastal waters. verified
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore verified
Diet (detail)
Mainly fishes. verified
Social behaviour
Solitary inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes verified
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred
Seasonality
Bottom-dweller of sandy and muddy bottoms; eggs and larvae drift in open water. inferred
Special features
Primitive flatfish with spines in the dorsal fin and eyes that can lie on either the left or the right side; four dark vertical bars. verified

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten sourced
Fishing method
Bottom fishing with natural bait or lures dragged over the sand or mud bottom. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced
First aid
None required: this species is harmless to humans. verified

Status & sources

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

Same genus Psettodes

More from the family Psettodidae

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