PORT PHILLIP BAY


Spotted Flounder 

Ammotretis lituratus (Richardson, 1844)

View scientific description and taxonomy

Scientific Details

Meristics.
Dorsal fin spines/rays: 77-82
Anal fin spines/rays: 54-58
Caudal fin rays: 14
Pectoral fin rays: 10-11
Ventral fin spines/rays: (right) 9-10 (left) 6
Lateral line: about 78

Interpreting fin count meristics.
Spines are in Roman numerals and soft rays are in Arabic numerals. Spines and rays that are continuous in one fin are separated by a comma. Fin sections are separated by semicolons.

Detailed descriptions of fin count and other meristics are in:
Gomon. M.F., Bray, D.J. & Kuiter, R.H. (eds) (2008) Fishes of Australia's Southern Coast. Sydney : Reed New Holland 928 pp.

Order level detail.
Adults with deep, highly compressed bodies and both eyes on the same side of the head. The long-based dorsal and anal fins are usually separate from the caudal fin. Some lack pectoral fins and have a single pelvic fin. Some groups have eyes on the right sides, whereas others have eyes on the left side, and others have eyes on either the right or the left side.

Taxonomy

Phylum:
Chordata
Subphylum:
Craniata
Superclass:
Gnathostomata
Class:
Actinopterygii
Order:
Pleuronectiformes
Family:
Rhombosoleidae
Genus:
Ammotretis
Species:
lituratus

General Description

Body extremely flattened with both eyes on the right side of the head, dorsal fin originating at tip of hooked snout, two pelvic fins, and a small rounded lump on the blind side near the pectoral-fin tip. To 32 cm.

Biology

This flatfish is rare in Vicoria's Port Phillip Bay and only found there as juveniles.

Habitat

Clean sandy bottoms near in bays and along the coast, in depths of 1-80 m.

Soft substrates

Distribution guide

South-eastern Australia.

Species Group

Fishes › Flatfishes and flounders

Depth

Shallow (1-30 m)
Deep ( > 30 m)

Water Column

On or near sea floor

Max Size

32 cm

Diet

Carnivore

Commercial Species

Yes

Global Dispersal

Native to Australia

Conservation Status

  • DSE Advisory List : Not listed
  • EPBC Act 1999 : Not listed
  • IUCN Red List : Not listed

Author

article author Bray, D.J.

Di Bray is a Senior Collection Manager of ichthyology at Museum Victoria.

Author

article author Gomon, M.F.

Dr. Martin Gomon is a Senior Curator of ichthyology at Museum Victoria.

citation

Cite this page as:
Bray, D.J. & Gomon, M.F., 2011, Spotted Flounder, Ammotretis lituratus, in Taxonomic Toolkit for marine life of Port Phillip Bay, Museum Victoria, accessed 25 Feb 2025, http://136.154.202.208:8098/species/6483

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