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Slender flounder (Etropus ectenes) — Paralichthyidae

Slender flounder

Etropus ectenes

The Slender flounder (Etropus ectenes) is a brackish-water fish of the family Paralichthyidae that grows up to 20 cm.

Length
20 cm
Water
Brackish
Behaviour
Solitary
Body shape
Irregular
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Commonly eaten

Description

The slender flounder is a small flatfish (Paralichthyidae) from shallow coastal water of the eastern Pacific. The species grows to about 12 cm and has a flattened, oval, pale-brown body with both eyes on the left side and a small mouth. As a bottom-dweller it lies buried on sand and mud bottoms and snaps at small crustaceans, worms and molluscs. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Slender flounder?

The Slender flounder has an irregular in shape body and is mainly brown.

Where does the Slender flounder live?

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

How big does the Slender flounder get?

The Slender flounder grows to a maximum of about 20 cm. On average the species is around 18 cm.

Is the Slender flounder dangerous to humans?

No, the Slender flounder is harmless to humans.

Is the Slender flounder edible?

Yes, the Slender flounder is commonly eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Slanke bot sourced
English name
Slender flounder sourced
Scientific name
Etropus ectenes
Family
Paralichthyidae
Other names
Sole flounder sourced

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
20.0 verified
Average length (cm)
18.0 verified
Body shape
Irregular sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Tail shape
Rounded inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Brackish sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Social behaviour
Solitary inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten inferred
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 verified

Status & sources

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

Same genus Etropus

More from the family Paralichthyidae

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