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New Zealand flounder (Rhombosolea leporina) — Pleuronectidae

New Zealand flounder

Rhombosolea leporina
NE · Not Evaluated

The New Zealand flounder (Rhombosolea leporina) is a saltwater fish of the family Pleuronectidae that grows up to 32 cm.

Length
32 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
1.0–50.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Commonly eaten

Description

The yellowbelly flounder is a flatfish (right-eyed flounder) from the waters around New Zealand. The species grows to about 32 cm and has a rhomboid, strongly flattened body with both eyes on the right side, a brown upper side and a yellow belly. As a bottom-dweller it lies half-buried in sand and mud bottoms of shallow coastal and estuarine water and hunts small worms, crustaceans and molluscs. It is a valued food fish. The IUCN has not evaluated the species.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the New Zealand flounder?

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

Where does the New Zealand flounder live?

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

How big does the New Zealand flounder get?

The New Zealand flounder grows to a maximum of about 32 cm.

Is the New Zealand flounder dangerous to humans?

No, the New Zealand flounder is harmless to humans.

Is the New Zealand flounder edible?

Yes, the New Zealand flounder is commonly eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Nieuw-Zeelandse bot verified
English name
New Zealand flounder verified
Scientific name
Rhombosolea leporina
Family
Pleuronectidae
Other names
Yellowbelly flounder; Yellow-belly flounder verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
32.0 verified
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Pattern
Plain sourced
Tail shape
Rounded inferred
Mouth position
Terminal sourced
Lips
Thin sourced
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous sourced
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

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

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Solitary sourced
Territorial
No sourced
Activity
Nocturnal sourced
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten sourced
Fishing method
Netvisserij 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 Rhombosolea

More from the family Pleuronectidae

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