Brachirus aspilos (Bleeker, 1852)
photo by Ryanskiy, A.

Family:  Soleidae (Soles)
Max. size:  38 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; brackish; marine; depth range 2 - 30 m
Distribution:  Indo-Pacific: tropical to subtropical waters; southeastern Indian and western Pacific oceans (recorded from Japan, East China Sea, Taiwan, Philippines, Vietnam, Singapore, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, and Australia),
Diagnosis:  Dorsal soft rays (total): 64-76; Anal soft rays: 51-62; Vertebrae: 41-44. This species is distinguished by the following set of characters: D 64-76 (mode 71); A 51-62; pored lateral line scales on straight portion 93-126 (118); vertebrae 41-44 (43); pectoral-fin rays on ocular side 4-7 (6) and on blind side 4-7 (5); pelvic-fin rays on ocular side 4-6 (5) and blind side 4-5 (4); caudal-fin rays 13-15 (14); body slightly elongate, its depth 40.0-51.0 (mean 45.5)% SL; head length 16.1-23.9 (18.6)% SL; pectoral fin on ocular side longer than that on blind side, 5.3-7.6 (6.6)% SL vs. 4.0-6.0 (4.8)% SL; pelvic fin on ocular side longer than that on blind side, 4.9–7.4 (6.0)% SL vs. 4.3–7.5 (5.8)% SL; body depth below lateral line 21.7-27.1 (23.4)% SL; lips without labial papillae; eyes separated by scaled interorbital space; cycloid or weakly ctenoid scales on blind side. Colouration: body on ocular side uniformly brown or grey with dark vermiculation, some small white blotches along dorsal- and anal-fin bases, or no remarkable pattern (Ref. 126081).
Biology:  Inhabits sheltered bays and lagoons on pale sandy substrates near reefs (Ref. 48637). Collected froom from shallow marine and estuarine waters in less than 5 m; but there are underwater photographs of individuals on shallow sandy bottoms between 2–30 m depth (Ref. 126081).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 08 March 2021 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless
Country info:   
 


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