Species: Scophthalmus aquosus, Windowpane, Windowpane Turbot

Scophthalmus aquosus (Mitchill, 1815)

Windowpane, Windowpane Turbot

Body a deep rhomboid (depth 60-70% of SL); eyes on left side of the body, large and prominent, separated by a flat space of moderate width (<eye), that space not different in the sexes; a slight notch on upper profile before eye; edge of preopercle exposed and easily visible; mouth large, top jaw 45% of head length, reaches to at least center of eye , asymmetrical, lower jaw prominent, top jaw with a bony tubercle at front; teeth equally developed on both sides, small, curved, in bands; dorsal fin originates well ahead of eye, front rays long and branched, free from membrane for much of their length, forming a fringed crest, a little longer than rear rays; front rays of anal fin also with tips extending well beyond fin membrane; 64-71 dorsal fin rays, 48-55 anal fin rays; most fin rays branched; dorsal and anal fins separated from tail fin; eye side pectoral triangular, slightly larger than blind side fin and with branched rays; pelvic fins both with long bases, eye-side fin base close to body midline, origin well forward under eye, eye side fin origin 1-2 rays before blind side fin origin, not connected to anal fin; lateral line equally developed on both sides of body, strongly arched above the pectoral; urinary papilla on eye side; scales small, smooth, 85-95 on lateral line.

Translucent brown with many small dark spots, larger spots on dorsal, tail and anal fins; eye side pectoral spotted; blind side whitish.

Reaches 46 cm.

On sand and silt bottoms, marine to slightly brackish water, northern fish migrate to deeper water in winter.

Depth range 1-110 m, but typically 1-2 m.

Gulf of St Lawrence to central Florida, strays to the Bahamas.