Home · Paralichthyidae · Doublespot whiff
Doublespot whiff (Citharichthys dinoceros) — Paralichthyidae

Doublespot whiff

Citharichthys dinoceros
LC · Least Concern

The Doublespot whiff (Citharichthys dinoceros) is a saltwater fish of the family Paralichthyidae that grows up to 12 cm.

Length
12 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
180.0–2000.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Rarely eaten

Description

The horned whiff is a left-eyed flatfish (Paralichthyidae) from the western Atlantic Ocean. The species has an oval, flattened body with both eyes on the left side; males bear a horn-like spine or projection near the eye, to which the name refers. It lives on soft bottoms of the deeper continental shelf. As a visually orienting ambush hunter it lies partly buried and springs on small crustaceans and small fishes. The species is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Doublespot whiff?

The Doublespot whiff has a flattened, disc-shaped body, is mainly silver-grey and shows a spots pattern.

Where does the Doublespot whiff live?

The Doublespot whiff lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Doublespot whiff get?

The Doublespot whiff grows to a maximum of about 12 cm.

Is the Doublespot whiff dangerous to humans?

No, the Doublespot whiff is harmless to humans.

Is the Doublespot whiff edible?

The Doublespot whiff is rarely eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Hoorn-schijnbot sourced
English name
Doublespot whiff verified
Scientific name
Citharichthys dinoceros
Family
Paralichthyidae
Other names
Spined whiff verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
12.0 verified
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey 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
Min depth (m)
180.0 verified
Max depth (m)
2000.0 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
Rarely eaten sourced
Fishing method
Klein van stuk en nauwelijks een hengelsportdoel; wordt vooral incidenteel of als aasvis gevangen. 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 Citharichthys

More from the family Paralichthyidae

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