| Family: |
Bothidae (Lefteye flounders) |
| Max. size: |
20 cm SL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
reef-associated; marine; depth range 1 - 96 m |
| Distribution: |
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea to Tonga, north to southern Japan, south to the Indo-Australian Archipelago. |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 77-84; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 55-62. Distinguished from all other Micronesian genera by having a nearly continuous bony ridge extending from the anterior margin of the lower eye to the posterior margin of the upper eye, and a narrow interorbital space, always greater than the greatest eye diameter.
Description: Characterized further by blotchy pale brown body color with three rows (approximately along lateral line) of large black-edged pale spots enclosing black dots, except posterior most spot on lateral line sometimes solid black; first dorsal ray moderately prolonged and separated from rest of fin, with central stalk and narrow, fringed membrane, extending more than half-way to base; ctenoid scales on eyed side, cycloid on blind side; palmate gill rakers; lower eye slightly anterior to upper; lower jaw extending to below front edge of lower eye or slightly posterior; uniserial teeth on both jaws; depth of body 2.0-2.4 in SL (Ref. 90102). |
| Biology: |
Inhabits sand and mud bottoms. Active during the day (Ref. 48637). Feeds on bottom-living animals. Also caught by divers. |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 03 March 2015 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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