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🌊 Marine Least Concern 🍽️ Edible 🌡️ Tropical

Indo-Pacific oval flounder

Bothus myriaster Temminck & Schlegel, 1846
Max Length
27 cm
Max Weight
-
Lifespan
-
Trophic Level
3.5
Depth
10–155 m
Climate
Tropical
Resilience
Medium
Vulnerability
40.00/100
Typical Length
-
Depth Zone
demersal

📖 Overview

Rare species . Found in sandy and muddy areas of the continental shelf . Feeds on benthic animals . Most sexually dimorphic characters develop at about 8 cm SL . Marketed fresh or used in making fish meal .

Scientific Name
Bothus myriaster
Authority
Temminck & Schlegel, 1846
Habitat
Marine
Climate
Tropical
Body Shape
Short and / or deep
IUCN Status
LC
Max Length
27 cm
Depth Range
10–155 m
Latitude
32°S – 37°N
Trophic Level
3.5
Resilience
Medium
Vulnerability
40.00/100
Salinity
30–40 ppt

🔬 Taxonomy

Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Teleostei
Teleostei
Order
Pleuronectiformes
Pleuronectiformes
Family
Bothidae
Bothidae
Genus
Bothus
Bothus
Species
Indo-Pacific oval flounder
Bothus myriaster

🐟 Physical Description

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 87 - 97; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 61 - 73. Distinguished by cycloid scales on the ocular side, except for upper and lower margins of body, and a shorter lower jaw (2.3 to 2.9 times in head length). Body almost circular in shape in young, becoming ovate with growth.: short and / or deep; Cross section: compressed.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Indo-Pacific oval flounder is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

aquatic invertebrates
small fish
algae
detritus

🥚 Reproduction

🐣 Oviparous 📦 Batch Spawner
Spawning Season
spring-summer
Spawn Location
Pelagic
Fertilization
External

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Marine; demersal; depth range 10 - 155 m . Tropical; 37°N - 32°S, 35°E - 160°E West Pacific: definitely recorded from Inhambane, Mozambique; throughout the Indian Ocean to Java, Sumatra, Viet Nam, Philippines, Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, and Lord Howe Island (Ref.

🌿 Ecology

Zone Preferences
🌊 Marine ⬇️ Benthic
Trophic Level
3.5±0.37
Food Items

benthic animals (Ref

📐 Morphometrics

Length–Weight Relationship: W = 0.01072 × L3.04 (TL)
Max TL
27cm
Dorsal Rays
92
Anal Rays
67

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

Salinity Range
30–40ppt

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

IUCN Category
Least Concern
Assessment Date
2019

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

Population Resilience
Medium
Minimum doubling time
Fishing Vulnerability
40.00/100
Moderate vulnerability
Trophic Level
3.5
Predator
Body Shape
Short and / or deep
Climate Zone
Tropical
Latitude Range
37°N – 32°S
Described By
Temminck & Schlegel, 1846

🍽️ Edibility & Flavour

"Indo-Pacific oval flounder is an edible species."

✓ Suitable Raw
✓ Fresh Indicators
  • Clear, bright eyes — cloudy eyes indicate age
  • Firm flesh that springs back when pressed
  • Fresh ocean smell, never strong or ammonia-like
  • Bright red or pink gills, not grey or brown
  • Shiny, moist skin with scales tightly attached
✗ Avoid If
  • Cloudy or sunken eyes
  • Strong fishy or ammonia odour
  • Soft, mushy flesh that doesn't spring back
  • Discoloured or dry flesh
Best Cooking Methods
Baking Grilling Pan-frying

⚡ Nutrition

Per 100g cooked - Source: USDA FoodData Central

Nutrient Amount
Protein 17.3 g
Omega-3 (total) 143 mg

🔬 Mercury Safety

Mercury data for Indo-Pacific oval flounder has not yet been assigned. Please consult FDA/EPA guidance for general seafood safety advice.

🌿 Sustainability

Best Choice
Healthy stocks, low impact
Good Alternative
Well-managed, minor concerns
Use Caution
Check sourcing and season
Avoid
Overfished or high impact
✓ Sustainable Choice

🔬 Full Nutritional Profile

Per 100g - Raw, per 100g - Source: USDA FoodData Central templates (generic fish average)

Proximate Composition
Energy125 kcal
Moisture75 %
Protein20 %
Total Fat4 %
Ash1.3 %
Fatty Acids (g)
Saturated Fat1 g
Monounsaturated Fat1.2 g
Polyunsaturated Fat1.5 g
Omega-3 Total1 g
EPA0.3 g
DHA0.5 g
Omega-6 Total0.3 g
Key Minerals & Vitamins
Calcium20 mg
Iron0.7 mg
Magnesium30 mg
Phosphorus220 mg
Potassium380 mg
Sodium55 mg
Zinc0.5 mg
Selenium32 µg
Vitamin B122 µg

📊 Population Dynamics

Year Region Index Notes
- - -

🌐 Names & Taxonomy

Language Common Names
🇬🇧English Oval flounder · disc flounder · starry oval flounder
🇫🇷French Rombou ovale
🇯🇵Japanese Hoshidarumagarei · ホシダルマガレイ
🇵🇹Portuguese Linguado-oval
🇷🇺Russian Азиатский ботус
🌍SOM Sheer-sheerto
🇪🇸Spanish Lenguado Ovalado
🌍SWA Wayo
🇨🇳Chinese 半邊魚 · 扁魚 · 比目魚 · 皇帝魚 · 繁星鮃 · 繁星鲆

Scientific Synonyms

Scientific Name Author Year Status
Bothus bleekeri Steindachner 1861 Synonym
Bothus ovalis Regan 1908 Synonym
Bothus thompsoni Fowler 1923 Synonym
Platophrys circularis Regan 1908 Synonym
Platophrys ovalis Regan 1908 Synonym
Platophrys thompsoni Fowler 1923 Synonym
Rhombus myriaster Temminck & Schlegel 1846 Synonym

🗺️ Global Occurrence Map

Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 6 records indexed .

Occurrence density from GBIF View GBIF records ↗

👥 Community & Contribute

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