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Nares flounder (Thysanopsetta naresi) — Paralichthyidae

Nares flounder

Thysanopsetta naresi

The Nares flounder (Thysanopsetta naresi) is a saltwater fish of the family Paralichthyidae that grows up to 15 cm.

Length
15.1 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
90.0–170.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Flatfish
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Not eaten

Description

The Nares flounder is a small, left-eyed flatfish of the family Paralichthyidae reaching about 15 cm. Both eyes lie on the left side, which is brownish with dark spots; a continuous fin fringe runs around the body, and the underside is white. The species lives in the cold waters of the south-western Atlantic around Patagonia and the Falkland Islands, on sand and mud bottoms of the continental shelf and slope. By day it presses against the bottom or partly buries itself; on the bottom it hunts small crustaceans and worms. Like all flatfish the young start symmetrical and, after metamorphosis, sink onto their side to the bottom. Because of its small size it has little commercial importance.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Nares flounder?

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

Where does the Nares flounder live?

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

How big does the Nares flounder get?

The Nares flounder grows to a maximum of about 15 cm.

Is the Nares flounder dangerous to humans?

No, the Nares flounder is harmless to humans.

Is the Nares flounder edible?

The Nares flounder is not usually eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Patagonische bottong inferred
English name
Nares flounder inferred
Scientific name
Thysanopsetta naresi
Family
Paralichthyidae

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
15.1 verified
Body shape
Flatfish verified
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Pattern
Spots sourced
Tail shape
Rounded inferred
Mouth position
Terminal inferred
Lips
Thin inferred
Barbels
No verified
Dorsal fins
One continuous sourced
Dorsal spines
No verified

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater verified
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom verified
Min depth (m)
90.0 verified
Max depth (m)
170.0 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

For anglers

Edibility
Not eaten verified
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

More from the family Paralichthyidae

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