Home · Paralichthyidae · Bigeye flounder
Bigeye flounder (Hippoglossina macrops) — Paralichthyidae

Bigeye flounder

Hippoglossina macrops
LC · Least Concern

The Bigeye flounder (Hippoglossina macrops) is a saltwater fish of the family Paralichthyidae that grows up to 40 cm.

Length
40 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
35.0–600.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Rarely eaten

Description

The bigeye flounder is a flatfish of the family Paralichthyidae from the south-eastern Pacific off Chile and Peru. The species has an oval, flattened body with both eyes on one side and conspicuously large eyes. It lives on soft bottoms, from the shallow coastal zone at about 35 metres to at least 600 metres. As a bottom predator it lies half-buried and ambushes passing prey; the diet consists mainly of crustaceans such as squat lobsters. The species is taken locally as bycatch and eaten. The bigeye flounder is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Bigeye flounder?

The Bigeye flounder has a flattened, disc-shaped body, is mainly brown and shows a plain pattern.

Where does the Bigeye flounder live?

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

How big does the Bigeye flounder get?

The Bigeye flounder grows to a maximum of about 40 cm. On average the species is around 35 cm.

Is the Bigeye flounder dangerous to humans?

No, the Bigeye flounder is harmless to humans.

Is the Bigeye flounder edible?

The Bigeye flounder is rarely eaten.

Download Fin's Fish Guide

Identify fish in seconds, log your catches and dives. Join the TestFlight beta.

Get the beta →

All data

Identification

Dutch name
Grootoogbot sourced
English name
Bigeye flounder verified
Scientific name
Hippoglossina macrops
Family
Paralichthyidae

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
40.0 sourced
Average length (cm)
35.0 verified
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Brown inferred
Pattern
Plain 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)
35.0 verified
Max depth (m)
600.0 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
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 Hippoglossina

More from the family Paralichthyidae

Download Fin's Fish Guide

Identify fish in seconds, log your catches and dives. Join the TestFlight beta.

Get the beta →