Japanese Lefteye Flounder, Arnoglossus japonicus Hubbs 1915


Illustration of a Japanese Lefteye Flounder, Arnoglossus japonicus, from Yaku-shima, Ryukyu Islands, Japan. Source: Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Division of Fishes. License: CC BY Attribution-Noncommercial-ShareAlike

Summary:
A pale brownish mottled and marbled flounder with no dark blotches on the pectoral or pelvic fins.

Cite this page as:
Bray, D.J. 2025, Arnoglossus japonicus in Fishes of Australia, accessed 20 Mar 2025, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/Home/species/941

Japanese Lefteye Flounder, Arnoglossus japonicus Hubbs 1915

More Info


Distribution

Northwest Shelf north of Nickol Bay, Western Australia, around the tropical north to Urunga, New South Wales. Elsewhere the species occurs in Indonesia, China, Taiwan, southern Japan and New Caledonia.
Inhabits soft sediment areas with broken coral, mud, sand, gravel and shells.

Features

Dorsal fin 99-106; Anal fin 76-83; Gill rakers (lower linb) 7-8, rakers short, pointed; Lateral-line scales 65-73. 
Body elliptical, elongate; interorbital region narrow with continuous bony ridge; head length 3.6–3.9 in SL; maxilla reaching to about middle of lower eye; anterior teeth of upper jaw larger than posterior teeth; lower jaw teeth widely spaced; a single row of teeth in jaws; no gill rakers on upper limb; cycloid scales on ocular side; 2nd dorsal fin ray elongated in males; caudal fin rounded.

Etymology

The specific name refers to the type locality: Vincennes Strait, south of Kiusiu, Japan.

Species Citation

Arnoglossus japonicus Hubbs 1915, Proceedings of the United States National Museum 48(2082): 454, pl. 25 (fig.2). Type locality: Vincennes Strait, south of Kiusiu, Japan, Albatross station 4930, depth 84 fathoms.

Author

Bray, D.J. 2025

Resources

Atlas of Living Australia

Japanese Lefteye Flounder, Arnoglossus japonicus Hubbs 1915

References


Amaoka, K. & Mihara, E. 2000. Pisces Pleuronectiformes: Flatfishes from New Caledonia and adjacent waters. Genus Arnoglossus. Mémoires du Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, Paris 184: 783-813 

Fukui, A., Yamadea, U. & Ozawa, T. 1990. Redescription of Arnoglossus yamanakai (Pleuronectiformes: Bothidae) with description of the adults. Japanese Journal of Ichthyology 37(3): 215-223 

Gloerfelt-Tarp, T. & Kailola, P.J. 1984. Trawled Fishes of Southern Indonesia and Northwest Australia. Jakarta : Dir. Gen. Fish. (Indonesia), German Tech. Coop., Aust. Dev. Ass. Bur. 406 pp. 

Hensley, D.A. & Amaoka, K. 2001. Bothidae. pp. 3799-3841 in Carpenter, K.E. & Niem, T.H. (eds). The Living Marine Resources of the Western Central Pacific. FAO Species Identification Guide for Fisheries Purposes. Rome : FAO Vol. 6 pp. 3381-4218. 

Hubbs, C.L. 1915. Flounders and soles from Japan collected by the United States Bureau of Fisheries steamer Albatross in 1906. Proceedings of the United States National Museum 48(2082): 449-496 pls 25-27 See ref at BHL

Munroe, T. 2016. Arnoglossus japonicus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T69741220A69742754. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T69741220A69742754.en. Accessed on 21 January 2025.

Quick Facts


CAAB Code:37460034

Conservation:IUCN Least Concern

Depth:85-250 m

Habitat:Soft sediment areas

Max Size:17 cm TL

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