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Kitahara's flounder (Laeops kitaharae) — Bothidae

Kitahara's flounder

Laeops kitaharae
Family: Bothidae

The Kitahara's flounder (Laeops kitaharae) is a saltwater fish of the family Bothidae that grows up to 20 cm.

Length
20 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
70.0–300.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Body shape
Flatfish
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Range
Asia: China, Taiwan/Ch Taipei, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea (South), New Caledonia and others

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Description

Kitahara's flounder is a left-eyed flatfish (Bothidae) from sand and mud bottoms of the northwest Pacific. The species grows to about 15 cm and has a strongly flattened, elongate, oval body with both eyes on the left side and a sandy upper side for camouflage. As a bottom-bound fish it lies half-buried on deeper soft sediment and snaps at small worms, crustaceans and small fish. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Kitahara's flounder?

The Kitahara's flounder has a flatfish-shaped body and is mainly brown.

Where does the Kitahara's flounder live?

The Kitahara's flounder lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom. Asia: China, Taiwan/Ch Taipei, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea (South), New Caledonia and others

How big does the Kitahara's flounder get?

The Kitahara's flounder grows to a maximum of about 20 cm.

Is the Kitahara's flounder dangerous to humans?

No, the Kitahara's 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.

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All data

Identification

English name
Kitahara's flounder sourced
Scientific name
Laeops kitaharae
Family
Bothidae
Other names
Kithara's flounder sourced

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
20.0 verified
Body shape
Flatfish sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Tail shape
Rounded inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
70.0 verified
Max depth (m)
300.0 verified
Natural range
Asia: China, Taiwan/Ch Taipei, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea (South), New Caledonia and others sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore inferred
Diet (detail)
Small fishes, crustaceans and invertebrates inferred
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 Bothidae

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