Laeops nigromaculatus von Bonde, 1922
Blackspotted flounder
Laeops nigromaculatus
photo by FAO

Family:  Bothidae (Lefteye flounders)
Max. size:  21 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; marine; depth range 100 - 475 m
Distribution:  Indo-Pacific, South Africa (Natal), Japan, Saya de Malha Bank, New Caledonia and Solomon Islands
Diagnosis:  Dorsal soft rays (total): 94-105; Anal soft rays: 77-85; Vertebrae: 47-50. This species is distinguished by the following characters: head length 4.5-5.9, body depth 2.6-3.2 in SL; upper profile steep with distinct concavity anterodorsal to eyes; snout tip pointed; pectoral-fin lenght of ocular side 6.9-12.4 in SL and shorter than head; upper jaw as long as lower eye diameter; teeth on lower jaw of the blind side in 1 or 2 rows; dorsal fin beginning above anterior nostril of blind side, before vertical through middle of upper eye, the first two rays not detached from other rays of the fin and the first to third rays a little prolonged, but not longer than longest dorsal-fin ray and with dorsal-fin pterigiophores shorter than neural spines of first four caudal vertebrae; D 94-105, A 77-85, pectoral-fin rays on ocular side 13-15, blind-side 13-14, lateral line scales 131-139, gill rakers 0-5 + 5-7, vertebrae 11-12 + 36-38 (Ref. 126083).
Biology:  Feeds on benthic animals (Ref. 9824).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 10 August 2020 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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