New 🐟 Mercury Safety Guide & Omega-3 Rankings Updated for 2026. View Omega-3 Rankings →

🌊 Marine Least Concern 🍽️ Edible 🌡️ Tropical

Cockatoo righteye flounder

Samaris cristatus Gray, 1831
Max Length
22.3 cm
Max Weight
-
Lifespan
-
Trophic Level
3.5
Depth
20–114 m
Climate
Tropical
Resilience
-
Vulnerability
12.00/100
Typical Length
16 cm
Depth Zone
demersal

📖 Overview

Inhabits silty sand or mud bottoms . Feeds on benthic animals . Flicks the long dorsal filaments on the front of the head when alarmed, looking just like the sticky threads that are produced by a holothurian when handled .

Scientific Name
Samaris cristatus
Authority
Gray, 1831
Habitat
Marine
Climate
Tropical
Body Shape
Short and / or deep
IUCN Status
LC
Max Length
22.3 cm
Depth Range
20–114 m
Latitude
31°S – 35°N
Trophic Level
3.5
Vulnerability
12.00/100
Salinity
30–40 ppt

🔬 Taxonomy

Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Teleostei
Teleostei
Order
Pleuronectiformes
Pleuronectiformes
Family
Samaridae
Samaridae
Genus
Samaris
Samaris
Species
Cockatoo righteye flounder
Samaris cristatus

🐟 Physical Description

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 73 - 78; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 49 - 60. Body on ocular side brownish with darker spots and blotches; a series of blotches along dorsal and ventral body margins; elongated anterior dorsal-fin rays white, remainder of dorsal fin, anal fin, and caudal fin brown; pectoral fin dark. Blind side of body whitish. First 12-15 (rarely 10-11) dorsal- fin rays greatly elongated. Pectoral fin on blind side absent or rudimentary. Pelvic fin on eyed side elongated. Caudal fin with 16 unbranched rays and rounded margin. : short and / or deep.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Cockatoo righteye flounder is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

Diet information for Cockatoo righteye flounder is currently being compiled.

🥚 Reproduction

Reproduction data for Cockatoo righteye flounder is currently being compiled.

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Marine; brackish; demersal; depth range 20 - 114 m . Tropical; 35°N - 31°S, 32°E - 168°E West Pacific: Red Sea, East Africa to New Caledonia, north to Japan and south to Australia.

🌿 Ecology

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

benthic animals (Ref

📐 Morphometrics

Length–Weight Relationship: W = 0.01585 × L2.94 (TL)
Max TL
22.3cm
Dorsal Rays
76
Anal Rays
55

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

Salinity Range
30–40ppt

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

IUCN Category
Least Concern
Assessment Date
2019

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

Fishing Vulnerability
12.00/100
Low vulnerability
Trophic Level
3.5
Predator
Body Shape
Short and / or deep
Climate Zone
Tropical
Latitude Range
35°N – 31°S
Described By
Gray, 1831

🍽️ Edibility & Flavour

"Cockatoo righteye 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

Detailed nutritional data for Cockatoo righteye flounder is currently being compiled from USDA FoodData Central.

🔬 Mercury Safety

Mercury data for Cockatoo righteye 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

🌐 Names & Taxonomy

Language Common Names
🇬🇧English Cockatoo righteye flounder · crested flounder
🇯🇵Japanese Hatatategarei · ハタタテガレイ

Scientific Synonyms

Scientific Name Author Year Status
Arnoglossus cacatuae Ogilby 1910 Synonym
Samaris cacatuae Ogilby 1910 Synonym
Samaris delagoensis von Bonde 1925 Synonym
Samaris ornatus von Bonde 1922 Synonym
Samariscus cristatus Gray 1831 Synonym
Smaris cristatus Gray 1831 Homotypic
Smaris cristatus erythraeus Chabanaud 1969 Synonym
Somaris cristatus Gray 1831 Synonym

🗺️ Global Occurrence Map

Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 15 records indexed .

Occurrence density from GBIF View GBIF records ↗

👥 Community & Contribute

Aquareap Community Observations
0 Observations logged on Aquareap

No observations yet - be the first to log one!

View all observations for Cockatoo righteye flounder ↗
Suggest an Edit

Spotted incorrect or outdated data? Submit a correction and our editorial team will review it. Approved edits go live within 48 hours.

Link to a scientific paper, FishBase, or other authoritative source
Report an Issue

Found a factual error, broken data, or inappropriate content? Let us know and we will investigate promptly.