Blotched Flounder

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).

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 77 - 84; Analspines: 0; Analsoft rays: 55 - 62

Inhabits sand and mud bottoms. Feeds on bottom-living animals (Ref. 9824).

Inhabits sand and mud bottoms. Active during the day (Ref. 48637). Feeds on bottom-living animals. Also caught by divers.

fisheries: minor commercial; price category: very high; price reliability: very questionable: based on ex-vessel price for species in this family

分布於印度-太平洋區，西起西印度洋、紅海，北至日本南部，南至東加群島。台灣發現於東沙島。

偶見之種，一般為潛水捕獲。

體長橢圓形，兩眼位於左側。頭短高。短鈍，背緣中央稍後有一小凹刻。眼中大，眼間隔中央淺縱凹，眼上緣各具一皮質突起。口斜裂，具尖形頜齒，前端齒較大。鰓耙掌狀，具小刺，第一鰓弓上鰓耙數0+6-11。眼側被弱櫛鱗，背及鰭鰭亦具鱗；盲側被圓鱗；僅眼側具側線，側線鱗數48-54。背鰭軟條數1+81-83，第一鰭條特化成釣桿，上端2/3至3/4部位特化分枝呈葉狀；臀鰭軟條數60-63；胸鰭略短於頭長；腹鰭左右不對稱；尾鰭圓形。眼側體呈淡黃灰褐色，體背、腹緣各有一列小黑褐斑，側線彎曲部上下有3個黑斑，側線直走部上亦有3個黑斑，各鰭淡黃色，多少散布黑斑點；盲側乳白色。

主要棲息於砂泥質的海域。肉食性魚類，主要捕食底棲性的甲殼類或是其它種類的小魚。平時不太愛活動，大半時間潛藏在砂泥底中，和棲息的背景環境幾乎完美融合一體，藉以欺敵捕食。