Largescale Dwarf Flounder

The Largescale Dwarf Flounder (Engyprosopon macrolepis) is a fascinating marine fish species that dwells in the warm tropical waters of the Indo-West Pacific region. You can find it from the 🌊 Red Sea to the 🇲🇻 Maldives and Cargados Carajos, extending north to 🇹🇼 Taiwan, the 🇵🇭 Philippines, and the Coral Sea. This flatfish is typically found on the ocean floor in muddy and sandy areas, sometimes near coral reefs, at depths ranging from 3 to 91 meters (approximately 10 to 299 feet).

This fish can grow to a maximum length of 16 centimeters (about 6.3 inches) and weigh up to 47 grams (1.66 ounces). It is known for its distinct physical features, including the absence of dorsal and anal spines. Instead, it has 76 to 85 soft rays in its dorsal fin and 58 to 63 soft rays in its anal fin. Notably, male Largescale Dwarf Flounders have unique ocular features, including an ocular flap on each eye with red spots and a smooth, scalloped margin. These males also exhibit orbital and rostral spines on the side with eyes and display darker pigmentation on the side without eyes.

The flounder's scales differ on each side of its body: ctenoid scales on the ocular side and cycloid scales on the blind side. A prominent feature in males is the much-elongated second pectoral fin ray on the side with eyes. There is also sexual dimorphism, meaning males and females vary in certain body measurements, specifically in interorbital width and the length of pectoral and pelvic fins on the ocular side. The gill rakers of this species are elongated in structure.

The name "Engyprosopon" is derived from Greek, where "eggys" means nearly and "prosopon" means a face, highlighting its unique facial features. This fish's adaptation to its environment and distinct characteristics make it a remarkable subject for marine studies.