Shorefishes of the Greater Caribbean online information system

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Family: SCOPHTHALMIDAE, Turbot, Turbots


All Families:   All Genera:   All Species:

eyes left side
body deep
mouth large, lower jaw prominent
both pelvic bases long, eye side base on midline, origin under eye
pectoral rays branched
LL both sides, arched, branches only over both eyes

FAMILY SCOPHTHALMIDAE

TURBOTS

Turbots are small to medium sized flounders (to ~ 100 cm); they have highly flattened, disc-like bodies; eyes on left side of the body; body deep; edge of preopercle exposed and easily visible; mouth large, asymmetrical, lower jaw prominent; dorsal fin originates ahead of eye; dorsal and anal fins contain numerous segmented rays; dorsal and anal fins separated from tail fin; most fin rays branched; both pectorals and both pelvics present; both pelvic fins with long bases, base of eye side fin on body midline, origin well forward under eye, 1-2 rays before blind side fin origin; lateral line equally developed on both sides of body, strongly arched above the pectoral fin; urinary papilla on eye side.

A temperate family with 8 species in 4 genera. One temperate species in the northern fringe of the Greater Caribbean.

PREPARED BY D ROSS ROBERTSON, AFTER MUNROE (2002)