Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; demersal; depth range 10 - 155 m (Ref. 9824). Tropical; 37°N - 32°S, 35°E - 160°E
Indo-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. 9824).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 27.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 9824)
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.
Body shape (shape guide): short and / or deep; Cross section: compressed.
Rare species (Ref. 9824). Found in sandy and muddy areas of the continental shelf (Ref. 5213). Feeds on benthic animals (Ref. 9824). Most sexually dimorphic characters develop at about 8 cm SL (Ref. 9824). Marketed fresh or used in making fish meal (Ref. 9824).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Hensley, D.A., 1986. Bothidae. p. 854-863. In M.M. Smith and P.C. Heemstra (eds.) Smiths' sea fishes. Springer-Verlag, Berlin. (Ref. 4417)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: commercial
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