Home · Bothidae · Flounder
Flounder (Bothus mancus) — Bothidae

Flounder

Bothus mancus
Family: Bothidae
LC · Least Concern

The Flounder (Bothus mancus) is a saltwater fish of the family Bothidae that grows up to 51 cm.

Length
51 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
3.0–150.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Commonly eaten

Description

The flowery flounder is a striking left-eyed flatfish of the family Bothidae from the Indo-West Pacific. The species reaches about 51 cm; both eyes lie on the left side and in the male are set far apart. The eyed side is brown with numerous blue rings and spots reminiscent of flowers, and the fish can change colour rapidly to blend with the substrate. Males have a strongly elongated pectoral ray. It inhabits sandy bottoms of shallow coral reefs and hunts mainly at night, but also by day, for fishes, crabs and shrimps.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Flounder?

The Flounder has a flattened, disc-shaped body, is mainly brown and shows a spots pattern.

Where does the Flounder live?

The Flounder lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground.

How big does the Flounder get?

The Flounder grows to a maximum of about 51 cm.

Is the Flounder dangerous to humans?

No, the Flounder is harmless to humans.

Is the Flounder edible?

Yes, the Flounder is commonly eaten.

Download Fin's Fish Guide

Identify fish in seconds, log your catches and dives. Join the TestFlight beta.

Get the beta →

All data

Identification

Dutch name
Bloemenbot sourced
English name
Flounder verified
Scientific name
Bothus mancus
Family
Bothidae
Other names
Flounder; Flowery flounder verified

Appearance

Size class
Large verified
Max length (cm)
51.0 verified
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped 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
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
3.0 verified
Max depth (m)
150.0 verified
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Solitary inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
Yes inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten sourced
Fishing method
Vissen met natuurlijk aas (vis, garnaal, worm) of kunstaas dicht bij rif- en rotsstructuren. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced

Status & sources

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

Same genus Bothus

More from the family Bothidae

Download Fin's Fish Guide

Identify fish in seconds, log your catches and dives. Join the TestFlight beta.

Get the beta →