The Largescale Flounder, Engyprosopon grandisquama, has an oval, compressed body. Its ocular side is typically greyish-brown, mottled with irregular darker and lighter blotches and scattered small dark spots, providing camouflage on sandy or muddy substrates. Small dark spots also mark the dorsal and anal fins. A key identification feature is a pair of black blotches on the caudal fin, situated between the third and fourth rays from both edges. It reaches a maximum length of 15 cm (6 in), though commonly observed at around 10 cm (4 in). The fish lacks elongated pectoral fins on its eyed side, with no noticeable sexual dimorphism in this regard. Its gill rakers are very short and smooth, numbering 5-7.
This flounder inhabits sandy and muddy areas, often on the continental shelf, at depths ranging from 7 to 200 meters (23 to 656 feet). It primarily feeds on crustaceans, polychaetes, and other small bottom-dwelling invertebrates, often ambushing prey from concealment. The species frequently buries itself in the substrate, leaving only its eyes exposed, making it a cryptic species often overlooked by divers. Meristic counts include 81 to 87 dorsal soft rays, 61 to 65 anal soft rays, 10-12 pectoral fin rays on the ocular side (8-10 on the blind side), 3 + 11 + 3 caudal fin rays, 6 pelvic fin rays on each side, 40 to 45 lateral line scales, and 24 vertebrae. The genus name Engyprosopon derives from Greek words meaning "nearly a face."
The genus. Engyprosopon Günther 1862 - engys (near) + prosopon (face or front). ETYFish
The species. Engyprosopon grandisquama (Temminck & Schlegel 1846) - grand (large) + squama (scaled). ETYFish
- greyish-brown mottled body with dark spots
- small dark spots on dorsal and anal fins
- pair of black blotches on caudal fin (3rd/4th rays from edges)
Why it's threatened
No major threats are known for this species. This is a relatively small-sized flatfish (up to 15 cm TL) that occurs in waters where trawling is conducted.
Threat classification from the IUCN Red List.
