Plagiopsetta glossa Franz, 1910
Tongue flatfish
photo by Shao, K.T.

Family:  Samaridae (Crested flounders)
Max. size:  19 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; marine; depth range 65 - 278 m
Distribution:  Western Pacific: Japan and Taiwan to New South Wales, Australia.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal soft rays (total): 66-72; Anal soft rays: 51-57. Feebly pigmented snout, presence of supratemporal branch on lateral line of ocular side and medial dark pigmented spot on mandible and intermandibular area (Ref. 37532); lateral line on blind side absent; gill rakers on ocular side 3-6 + 7-13; caudal vertebrae 27-28; lateral-line scales on the ocular side 59-68; D 68-73, A 52-57, pectoral-fin rays on ocular side 8-10; caudal-fin rays 16-17; large ocelli on ocular side; pectoral-fin plain black or pale with black spots (Ref. 122002).
Biology:  Found in the sublittoral zone on sandy mud bottoms (Ref. 11230). Rare. Feeds on small benthic animals.
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 06 November 2020 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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