Species: Syacium papillosum, Dusky Flounder

Syacium papillosum (Linnaeus, 1758)

Dusky Flounder

Body an elongate oval, height 40-44% of SL; eyes on left side, lower distinctly before upper; males eyes wide apart (between them >75% of diameter of lower eye in large males); large females: between eyes 25-60% diameter of lower eye; small females: snout 66 (54-74)% length before top eye, between eyes > 15% lower eye; head length 26-28% of SL; snout with a notch before top eye; snout length 66 (54-74)% of distance from snout tip to top eye; mouth large, ends under middle lower eye; fixed teeth in 2 rows on upper jaw, 1 row on lower jaw, front teeth larger than side teeth; 82-94 dorsal rays; 64-75 anal rays; pectoral fins on both sides of body, with branched rays, eye-side pectoral with first 2 rays greatly elongate in male; pelvic fins symmetrically positioned on belly, base of eye-side fin on body midline, short bases; urinary papilla on blind side, immediately behind anus; scales rough on eye side, smooth on blind side; 47-60 lateral line scales; lateral line well developed on both sides, not extending onto head, relatively straight.

Eye side grey-brown, female with little or no dark mottling; blind side dusky; pectoral fin with 3-4 dark bars in both sexes; male with blue lines along snout before upper eye, sometimes also on lips and lower jaw.

Size: 25 cm.

Habitat: sand and mud bottoms.

Depth: 1-400 m.

N Carolina to Brazil.