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Dalgleish's flounder (Arnoglossus dalgleishi) — Bothidae

Dalgleish's flounder

Arnoglossus dalgleishi
Family: Bothidae

The Dalgleish's flounder (Arnoglossus dalgleishi) is a saltwater fish of the family Bothidae that grows up to 20 cm.

Length
20 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
50–220 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Range
Africa: Indonesia, Kenya, Mozambique, New Caledonia, South Africa, Tanzania
Edibility
Commonly eaten

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Description

The Dalgleish's flounder is a flatfish (Bothidae) from coastal waters of coastal waters of southern Africa. The species has a flattened, oval, pale-brown body with both eyes on the left side; the upper side is speckled and matches the bottom, the underside is white. As a bottom-dweller it lies buried on sand and mud bottoms and snaps at small crustaceans, worms and small fish. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Dalgleish's flounder?

The Dalgleish's flounder has a flattened, disc-shaped body, is mainly brown and shows a spots pattern.

Where does the Dalgleish's flounder live?

The Dalgleish's flounder lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom. Africa: Indonesia, Kenya, Mozambique, New Caledonia, South Africa, Tanzania

How big does the Dalgleish's flounder get?

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

Is the Dalgleish's flounder dangerous to humans?

No, the Dalgleish'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.

Is the Dalgleish's flounder edible?

Yes, the Dalgleish's flounder is commonly eaten.

More photos

Dalgleish's flounder (Arnoglossus dalgleishi) — Bothidae — 2
Joycelyn Goh (CC BY 4.0) via GBIF — AM
Dalgleish's flounder (Arnoglossus dalgleishi) — Bothidae — 3
iNaturalist ((c) Mark McGrouther, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))

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All data

Identification

English name
Dalgleish's flounder sourced
Scientific name
Arnoglossus dalgleishi
Family
Bothidae
Other names
East coast flounder verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
20 verified
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Pattern
Spots sourced
Tail shape
Rounded

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
50 verified
Max depth (m)
220 verified
Natural range
Africa: Indonesia, Kenya, Mozambique, New Caledonia, South Africa, Tanzania sourced
Origin
Native

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore
Diet (detail)
Small fishes, crustaceans and invertebrates
Social behaviour
Solitary
Territorial
No
Reproduction
Separate sexes
Sexual dimorphism
No
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known.

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten
Fishing method
Bottom fishing with natural bait (worm, shrimp or fish) on or just above the seabed.
Regulations source

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

Same genus Arnoglossus

More from the family Bothidae

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