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Toothed flounder (Cyclopsetta querna) — Paralichthyidae

Toothed flounder

Cyclopsetta querna
LC · Least Concern

The Toothed flounder (Cyclopsetta querna) is a brackish-water fish of the family Paralichthyidae that grows up to 39 cm.

Length
39 cm
Water
Brackish
Depth
0.0–30.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Commonly eaten

Description

The toothed flounder is a left-eyed flatfish (Paralichthyidae) from the eastern Pacific. The species has an oval, flattened body with both eyes on the left side, a large mouth with strong teeth and a sand-coloured, mottled upper side. It inhabits soft bottoms, from the vicinity of mangroves to about 29 m deep. As an ambush hunter it lies partly buried and springs on large benthic prey, especially fishes and crustaceans. The species is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Toothed flounder?

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

Where does the Toothed flounder live?

The Toothed flounder lives in brackish water and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Toothed flounder get?

The Toothed flounder grows to a maximum of about 39 cm. On average the species is around 25 cm.

Is the Toothed flounder dangerous to humans?

No, the Toothed flounder is harmless to humans.

Is the Toothed flounder edible?

Yes, the Toothed flounder is commonly eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Tand-schijnbot sourced
English name
Toothed flounder verified
Scientific name
Cyclopsetta querna
Family
Paralichthyidae
Other names
Toothed flounder verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
39.0 verified
Average length (cm)
25.0 verified
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey inferred
Pattern
Spots inferred
Tail shape
Rounded inferred
Mouth position
Terminal inferred
Lips
Thick / fleshy inferred
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous inferred
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Brackish sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
0.0 verified
Max depth (m)
30.0 verified
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Solitary inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred
levensduur_max_jaar
5.0 verified

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten sourced
Fishing method
Bodemvissen met natuurlijk aas (worm, garnaal of vis) op of vlak boven de bodem. 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 Cyclopsetta

More from the family Paralichthyidae

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