About Zeugopterus punctatus (Bloch, 1787)
Zeugopterus punctatus, first formally described by Bloch in 1787, is a small left-sided flatfish with an almost completely round body shape. Its body is very broad relative to its total length. Its body has a mottled brown and white coloration, and it has a distinct dark bar that runs through its eyes. It has broad, light-colored fins that extend all the way around the edge of its body, and a very small tail. Unlike most other flatfish species, Zeugopterus punctatus does not appear to change its body color for camouflage. Instead, it relies on staying completely immobile to avoid being detected by predators. This species reaches a maximum total length of approximately 25 centimeters, or 10 inches. It is sometimes mistaken for the lemon sole Microstomus kitti, which also occurs on rocky substrates. Lemon sole differs from Zeugopterus punctatus by having a clear distinct pattern on its back, lacking the species' long continuous fins, and having a more pointed overall body shape. The eyed (upper) side of Zeugopterus punctatus is covered in small ctenoid scales, while the blind (lower) side is covered in cycloid scales. The large number of small ctenoid scales on the eyed side gives the fish a downy texture when touched. This species is distributed in the eastern Atlantic Ocean, with a range that includes the North Sea, Baltic Sea, English Channel, and Bay of Biscay, extending south to the coast of Portugal.
