Cape Scaldfish
Arnoglossus capensis
Wide-eyed flounder
Bothus podas
About
The wide-eyed flounder gets its name from a feature you can really only appreciate face-on: a gap between its eyes wider than almost any other flatfish shares its sandy home with.
- Length
- 13 cm · max 45 cm
- Weight
- max 700 g
- Depth
- up to 400 m
How to tell it apart
Several flatfish share this sandy habitat, but the wide-eyed flounder stands out for the unusually wide gap between its eyes, especially in males, which is broader than in other similar flatfish nearby.
Appearance
This small, oval flatfish has both eyes on the left side of its flattened body. Its upper side is light brown with darker spots, while the underside is pale. It can grow up to 45cm long, though most individuals seen are much smaller.
Did you know?
During the breeding season, females tend to stay loyal to a single dominant male within his territory, even when other males try to court them.
Log it in Into the Blue
Describe what you saw and we name it, then keep every species you find in your Oceandex.
