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Flounder (Bothus pantherinus) — Bothidae

Flounder

Bothus pantherinus
Family: Bothidae
LC · Least Concern

The Flounder (Bothus pantherinus) is a saltwater fish of the family Bothidae that grows up to 39 cm.

Length
39 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
Rarely eaten

Description

The leopard flounder is a flatfish of the lefteye flounder family (Bothidae) from the Indo-Pacific. The species grows to about 39 cm and has a round-oval, flattened body with both eyes on the left side and a handsome pattern of rings and blue spots on a sand-coloured eyed side, camouflaging it excellently; it can quickly match its colour to the substrate. It lives on sand, silt and mud bottoms of inner reef flats and lagoons. As an ambush bottom hunter it seizes small fishes and crustaceans. Males have an elongated pectoral ray. The species is harmless to humans.

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 39 cm. On average the species is around 20 cm.

Is the Flounder dangerous to humans?

No, the Flounder is harmless to humans.

Is the Flounder edible?

The Flounder is rarely eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Luipaardbot sourced
English name
Flounder verified
Scientific name
Bothus pantherinus
Family
Bothidae
Other names
Leopard flounder; Leopard Flounder verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
39.0 verified
Average length (cm)
20.0 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
No inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Rarely 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

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