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Megrim (Lepidorhombus whiffiagonis) — Scophthalmidae

Megrim

Lepidorhombus whiffiagonis
LC · Least Concern

The Megrim (Lepidorhombus whiffiagonis) is a saltwater fish of the family Scophthalmidae that grows up to 60 cm.

Length
60 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
100.0–700.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Flatfish
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Commonly eaten

Description

The megrim is a slender flatfish of the family Scophthalmidae reaching about 60 cm. Unlike plaice and sole the megrim is left-eyed: both eyes lie on the left side, which is yellow-brown and somewhat spotted. The body is strikingly thin and slender, with a fairly large mouth and large eyes. The species lives on sand and mud bottoms of the continental shelf and slope of the north-eastern Atlantic, mainly in the Bay of Biscay and around the British Isles, usually between one hundred and seven hundred metres. As an active flatfish it hunts small fish, shrimps and crustaceans. The megrim is an important commercial flatfish with lean white flesh, especially prized in southern Europe.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Megrim?

The Megrim has a flatfish-shaped body, is mainly brown and shows a spots pattern.

Where does the Megrim live?

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

How big does the Megrim get?

The Megrim grows to a maximum of about 60 cm. On average the species is around 25 cm.

Is the Megrim dangerous to humans?

No, the Megrim is harmless to humans.

Is the Megrim edible?

Yes, the Megrim is commonly eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Scharretong sourced
English name
Megrim verified
Scientific name
Lepidorhombus whiffiagonis
Family
Scophthalmidae
Other names
Megrim verified

Appearance

Size class
Large verified
Max length (cm)
60.0 verified
Average length (cm)
25.0 verified
Body shape
Flatfish verified
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Pattern
Spots sourced
Tail shape
Straight inferred
Mouth position
Terminal inferred
Lips
Thick / fleshy inferred
Barbels
No verified
Dorsal fins
One continuous sourced
Dorsal spines
No verified

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater verified
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
100.0 verified
Max depth (m)
700.0 verified
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore verified
Social behaviour
Solitary verified
Territorial
No verified
Activity
Nocturnal inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes verified
Sexual dimorphism
No verified
levensduur_max_jaar
16.0 verified

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten verified
Fishing method
Vooral commercieel met bodemnetten; voor de sportvisserij soms als bijvangst bij het bodemvissen in dieper water sourced
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 Lepidorhombus

More from the family Scophthalmidae

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