Fishby LogoFishby

Turbot

Sicuro

Scophthalmus maximus

Conosciuto anche come: Butt, Braden, Rhombo, Turbot-fish

Hai una foto? Identifica i pesci all'istante con l'app Fishby.

Apri l'app

Descrizione

Scophthalmus maximus, commonly known as Turbot, is a large species of flatfish belonging to the family Scophthalmidae. It is highly prized as a food fish due to its excellent flesh quality. This species exhibits a distinctive flattened, rhomboidal body shape, adapted for a benthic lifestyle. Its coloration and dermal ossifications provide effective camouflage on the seabed.

Caratteristiche fisiche

Forma del corpo
flat
Colorazione
Dorsal side varies from sandy brown to dark olive-green, often mottled with darker spots and blotches, providing excellent camouflage. Ventral side is typically white. Coloration can change to match the substrate.
Tipo di squame
none
Posizione della bocca
superior
Caratteristiche distintive
Rhomboidal (diamond-shaped) body, almost as broad as it is long., Eyes are typically on the left side of the head (sinistral)., Skin is scaleless but covered with numerous bony tubercles (ossifications) giving it a rough, 'chiodato' (nailed) appearance., Large, wide mouth with small, sharp teeth.
Pinna dorsale
Long, originating just behind the eye, extending almost to the caudal fin. Contains 57-92 soft rays.
Pinna caudale
Rounded or slightly truncate caudal fin, distinct from dorsal and anal fins.
Pinna pettorale
Well-developed, rounded pectoral fins.
Pinne distintive
Anal fin is also long, mirroring the dorsal fin, with 42-67 soft rays. Pelvic fins are small and located anteriorly.

Consigli per l'identificazione

Body Shape

Look for the distinctively broad, almost circular or rhomboidal body, which is much wider than most other flatfish.

Skin Texture

Feel for the rough, scaleless skin covered in bony tubercles (ossifications), which are a key distinguishing feature from other smooth-skinned flatfish.

Eye Placement

Observe that both eyes are typically on the left side of the head (sinistral), a characteristic of the Scophthalmidae family.

Mouth

Note the large, wide mouth with a prominent lower jaw, indicating its predatory feeding habits.

Habitat

Tipo di acqua
saltwater
Profondità
Typically found at depths ranging from 5 to 100 meters (16 to 328 feet), though occasionally deeper.
Ambiente
Benthic, inhabiting sandy, muddy, or gravelly seabeds in coastal waters and estuaries. Prefers relatively shallow, temperate waters.
Areale geografico
Northeastern Atlantic Ocean, from Norway and the Baltic Sea south to the Mediterranean Sea and the Black Sea. Also found along the coasts of Iceland and the British Isles.

Informazioni sull'acquario

  • Livello di cura: expert
  • Temperamento: semi-aggressive
  • Dieta: carnivore
  • Dimensione minima della vasca: Not suitable for typical home aquaria due to size and specialized needs; requires very large, specialized public aquarium setups.
  • Temperatura: 10-18°C (50-64°F)
  • Livello di pH: 7.8-8.4
  • Durezza: High (marine salinity)
  • Compatibilità: Not compatible with most species due to predatory nature and specific environmental requirements. Best kept in species-specific exhibits or with very large, robust benthic species.
  • Requisiti speciali: Requires a very large footprint tank with a soft substrate for burrowing, excellent filtration, and stable cold-water marine conditions. Not recommended for private aquarists.

Informazioni in natura

  • Stato di conservazione: least concern
  • Stagionalità: Available year-round, with peak fishing seasons varying regionally, often in spring and autumn.
  • Prezzo di mercato: High, often considered a luxury fish.
  • Importanza commerciale: high
  • Sapore: Mild, delicate, and refined flavor.
  • Consistenza: Firm, white, flaky, and succulent flesh.
  • Metodi di cottura: Baked, Grilled, Pan-fried, Poached, Steamed, Roasted
  • Valore nutrizionale: Excellent source of lean protein, Omega-3 fatty acids, and various vitamins and minerals (e.g., B vitamins, phosphorus, selenium).

Fatti chiave

Master of Camouflagebehavior

Turbot can rapidly change its skin coloration to perfectly match the surrounding seabed, making it incredibly difficult to spot by predators and prey alike.

Left-Eyed Flatfishinteresting

Unlike many other flatfish families, Turbot (and all Scophthalmidae) are 'left-eyed' or sinistral, meaning both eyes migrate to the left side of the head during larval development.

Bony Skininteresting

The 'chiodato' (nailed) part of its Italian name refers to the distinctive bony tubercles embedded in its scaleless skin, a unique feature among flatfish.

Top Predatorbehavior

Despite its flattened appearance, the Turbot is an active and voracious ambush predator, feeding on other bottom-dwelling fish, crustaceans, and mollusks.

Aquaculture Successinteresting

Turbot is one of the most successfully farmed marine fish species in Europe, contributing significantly to its market availability and reducing pressure on wild stocks.

Informazioni di sicurezza

Sicuro
  • Livello di sicurezza: safe
  • Velenoso: No
  • Commestibilità: edible
  • Note sul maneggio: No specific handling precautions are required beyond standard fish handling practices. Its rough skin can be abrasive, so care should be taken to avoid scrapes. No venomous spines.

Specie simili

Brill

Scophthalmus rhombus

Brill has a smoother skin texture with fewer, smaller bony tubercles, and its body is typically more oval and less broad than the Turbot. The dorsal fin origin is further back from the eye in Brill.

Plaice

Pleuronectes platessa

Plaice has a smooth skin with distinct orange or red spots and its eyes are on the right side of the head (dextral). Its body shape is more oval and less broad than Turbot.

Flounder

Platichthys flesus

Flounder also has eyes on the right side (dextral) and a rougher skin than plaice, but lacks the prominent bony tubercles of the Turbot. Its body is generally less broad and more elongated.

Classificazione scientifica

Regno
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Classe
Actinopterygii
Ordine
Pleuronectiformes
Famiglia
Scophthalmidae
Genere
Scophthalmus
Specie
maximus

Esplora Turbot

Identifica pesci ovunque

Gratis su iOS, Android e Web. Identificazione tramite foto, dettagli completi sulle specie e molto altro.

Apri nell'app