Engyprosopon xystrias Hubbs, 1915
photo by FAO

Family:  Bothidae (Lefteye flounders)
Max. size:  16 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; brackish; marine; depth range 30 - 240 m
Distribution:  Indo-West Pacific: from Saya de Malha Bank; north to southern Japan, Taiwan, South China Sea to Coral Sea.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal soft rays (total): 88-98; Anal soft rays: 60-77; Vertebrae: 35-37. This species is distinguished by the following characters: gill rakers 0-6 + 13-18; anterior margin of head is anterior to both eyes with about 4-5 pale blotches margined by dark bands; compared to.body scales, the scales on front margin of head more strongly ctenoid and are non-deciduous (Ref. 126076). Description. D 92 (88–98, from other localities), A 65 (60–77), pectoral-fin rays on ocular-side 12 (12–13), on blind-side 9 (10–12), caudal-fin rays 3 + 11 + 3 (3 + 11 + 3), ocular-side pelvic-fin rays 6 (6), blind-side pelvic-fin rays 6 (6), scales in lateral line 40 (39–50), gill rakers 0 + 13 (0–6 + 13–18), vertebrae 10 + 26 (10 + 25–27) (Ref. 126076).
Biology:  Inhabits muddy substrates in shallow estuaries and still bays to about 30 meters depth. Active at night and usually burries itself in the sand during the day (Ref. 48637). Feeds on small benthic animals. Rarely caught by bottom trawls.
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 04 March 2015 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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