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Lepidorhombus whiffiagonis (Walbaum, 1792)

Lepidorhombus whiffiagonis: (click for more)

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Synonyms

	Pleuronectes whiffiagonis Walbaum, 1792: 120 (original description).
	Lepidorhombus megastoma Donovan, 1804: 407.
	Pleuronectes pseudopalus Pennant, 1812: 324.
	Zeugopterus ? velivolans Yarrell, 1859: 656.
	Lepidorhombus megastoma borealis Kyle, 1913: 13.

FAO Names

En - Megrim, Fr - Cardine franche, Sp - Gallo del Norte.

3Alpha Code: MEG Taxonomic Code: 1830500301

Diagnostic Features

Body elongate. Ctenoid (comb-like) rough scales on eyed and cycloid (smooth) scales on blind side. Mouth large. Diameter of eye less than length of snout. Dorsal fin with 85-94 rays; origin closer to tip of snout than to anterior edge of eye. Anal fin with 64-74 rays. Dorsal and anal fins terminate just a little on the blind side of the caudal peduncle; bases of both pelvic fins elongate and of equal length; lateral line with 95-109 scales forms a distinct curve above pectoral fin. Colour yellowish or greyish brown. Dorsal and anal fins with indefinite darker spots posteriorly.

Geographical Distribution

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Atlantic coasts from 64° N (including Iceland) to Cape Bojador (26° N) and in the Mediterranean Sea.

Habitat and Biology
Benthic species on soft bottomdown to about 400 m depth (occasionally 700 m).Fish forms the main part of the food, but also squids and crustaceans. Reproduction between March and June.

Size
About 60 cm; common 20-30 cm.

Interest to Fisheries
Caught with bottom trawls. The total catch reported for this species to FAO for 1999 was 19 467 t. The countries with the largest catches were Spain (6 969 t) and UK (5 606 t). Marketed fresh or frozen.

Local Names

Catalan : Bruixa sense taques , Bruixa , Gall , Llisèria , Palaia bruixa , Serrandell .

English : Megrim .

Danish : Glashvarre .

Finnish : Lasikampela .

German : Scheefschnut .

Greek : Glóssa .

Icelandic : Stórkjafta .

Italian : Rombo giallo .

Norwegian : Glassvar .

Polish : Smuklica .

Portuguese : Aeeiro .

Spanish : Gallo , Gallo del norte .

Swedish : Glassvar .

Bibliography

Fischer, W.; G. Bianchi; W. B. Scott (eds.). - 1981Fiches FAO d'identification des espèces pour les besoins de la pêche. Atlantique centre-est; zones de pêche 34, 47 (en partie). Canada Fonds de Dépôt. Ottawa, Ministère des Pêcheries et Océans Canada, en accord avec l'Organisation des Nations Unies pour l'Alimentation et l'Agriculture, Vol. 1-7: pag var.

Alegre, M., J. Lleonart & J. Veny. - 1992 Espècies Pesqueres d'interès comercial. Nomenclatura oficial catalana. Generalitat de Catalunya. Departament de Cultura, DARP, TERMCAT. 64 pp.

Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2003. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. www.fishbase.org

Lloris, D. & J. Rucabado. - 1998 Guide FAO d'Identification des espèces pour les besoins de la pêche. Guide d'Identification des Ressources Marines Vivantes du Maroc. Rome, FAO: 263 pp.

Nielsen, J. G. - 1986 Scophthalmidae. In: P.J.P. Whitehead et al., (eds.). Fishes of the North-eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean (FNAM). Unesco, Paris, vol. III: 1287-1293.

Nielsen, J. G. - 1990. Scophthalmidae. In: J.C. Quero et al., (eds.) Check-list of the fishes of the eastern tropical Atlantic (CLOFETA). Unesco, Portugal, vol. II: 1026.



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