Mueller's Flounder, Arnoglossus muelleri (Klunzinger 1872)
Other Names: Muellers Flounder, Müller's Flounder, Von Mueller's Flounder
Mueller's Flounder, Arnoglossus muelleri. Source: Rudie H. Kuiter / Aquatic Photographics. License: All rights reserved
Summary:
A brownish flounder with variable dark and pale spots and speckles, and usually large dark spots on the midside. Although difficult to distinguish from the Bass Strait Flounder, Arnoglossus bassensis, Mueller's Flounder has slightly larger scales and eyes, and appears to be more common in Port Phillip, Victoria.
Cite this page as:
Bray, D.J. 2025, Arnoglossus muelleri in Fishes of Australia, accessed 24 Mar 2025, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/4680
Mueller's Flounder, Arnoglossus muelleri (Klunzinger 1872)
More Info
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Distribution |
Endemic to southern Australia from Bass Strait west of Point Hicks, Victoria, to Doubtful Island Bay, Western Australia, and islands in Bass Strait, Tasmania. Inhabits broken shelly and sandy areas at depths to 200 m. |
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Features |
Dorsal fin 90-99; Anal fin 72-77; Caudal fin 15; Pectoral fin 10-12; Pelvic fin 6; Lateral line scales 65-73; Gill rakers 7-10; Vertebrae 42-44. Body deep (40-45% SL), extremely compressed, of moderate length. Head small (22-25% SL); eyes on left side of head, moderately small (20-25% HL), separated by low, narrow ridge; mouth moderately small (upper jaw length 33-39% HL), oblique; teeth small, pointed, single row in each jaw. Scales very small, ctenoid on eyed side, cycloid on blind side, somewhat loosely attached, covering all of head; lateral line present only on eyed side, with prominent curve above pectoral fin, terminating anteriorly above and behind upper end of gill opening. Dorsal, anal and caudal fins separate; dorsal fin arising above anterior nostrils, without elongate anterior rays; caudal fin broadly pointed. Left pectoral fin slightly longer than right. Left pelvic fin arising at anterior extent of chest, with longer base than right. |
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Colour |
Eyed side brownish, often with large faintly darker brown spots along midline of side; blind side whitish; fins, except pectoral of blind side, with dark speckles; caudal fin often with dark brown membranes distally. |
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Remarks |
Mueller's Flounder is difficult to distinguish from the Bass Strait Flounder, Arnoglossus bassensis. Mueller's Flounder has slightly larger scales and eyes, and may be more common in Port Phillip, Victoria. |
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Etymology |
Named in honour of botanist Ferdinand von Mueller, who donated his large collection of Australian plant and animal specimens, including the type of Mueller's Flounder, to the museum in Stuttgart, Germany (now Staatliches Museum für Naturkunde). |
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Species Citation |
Pseudorhombus muelleri Klunzinger 1872, Archiv für Naturgeschichte 38(1): 40 (as Pseudorhombus mülleri). Type locality: Hobsons Bay, Victoria. |
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Author |
Bray, D.J. 2025 |
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Resources |
Mueller's Flounder, Arnoglossus muelleri (Klunzinger 1872)
References
Amaoka, K., Arai, M. & Gomon, M.F. 1997. A new species of Arnoglossus (Pleuronectiformes: Bothidae) from the southwestern coast of Australia. Ichthyological Research 44(2): 131-136 figs 1-3 https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02678692
Amaoka, K., Matsuura, K. & Carpenter, K.E. 2020. Arnoglossus muelleri. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020: e.T143819504A143844422. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-1.RLTS.T143819504A143844422.en. Accessed on 21 January 2025.
Furlani, D., Gales, R. & Pemberton, D. 2007. Otoliths of common Australian temperate fish: a photographic guide. Collingwood, VIC: CSIRO Publishing ii + 208 pp.
Gomon, M.F. 1994. Family Bothidae. pp. 844-850, figs 747-752 in Gomon, M.F., Glover, C.J.M. & Kuiter, R.H. (eds). The Fishes of Australia's South Coast. Adelaide : State Printer 992 pp. 810 figs.
Gomon, M.F. 2008. Family Bothidae. pp. 808-810 in Gomon, M.F., Bray, D.J. & Kuiter, R.H. (eds). Fishes of Australia's Southern Coast. Sydney : Reed New Holland 928 pp.
Klunzinger, C.B. 1872. Zur Fische-fauna von Süd Australien. Archiv für Naturgeschichte 38(1): 17-47 pl. 2 See ref at BHL
Klunzinger, C.B. 1880. Die von Müller'sche Sammlung australischer Fische in Stuttgart. Sitzungsberichte der Kaiserlichen Akademie der Wissenschaften. Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Classe 80(1. Abth.) (nos 3-4): 325-430, Pls. 1-9. See ref at BHL
Kuiter, R.H. 1993. Coastal Fishes of South-eastern Australia. Bathurst : Crawford House Press 437 pp.
Last, P.R., Scott, E.O.G. & Talbot, F.H. 1983. Fishes of Tasmania. Hobart : Tasmanian Fisheries Development Authority 563 pp. figs.
May, J.L. & Maxwell, J.G.H. 1986. Field Guide to Trawl Fish from Temperate Waters of Australia. Hobart : CSIRO Division of Marine Research 492 pp.
