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A larval pelican flounder
Chascanopsetta sp
Above and below: A larval pelican flounder photographed at night at a depth of about 6 m, off Kona, Hawaii, October 2007. The bottom depth at the site was approximately 1600 m to 2300 m. Photo © M. D'Avella. View larger image.
Matthew D'Avella photographed this beautiful larval fish while black water diving (blue water diving at night) off Kona, Hawaii.
Dr A. Fukui (School of Marine Science and Technology, Tokai University, Japan) identified the fish as a species of Chascanopsetta, one of the Pelican Flounders. It is one of the two species know from Hawaii, either C. crumeralis or C. prorigera.
One species of Chascanopsetta is recorded from Australian waters. The Pelican Flounder, C. lugubris, occurs from off the central coast of Western Australia, around the tropical north of the country and south to the central coast of New South Wales. It grows to about 38 cm in length.
Related links
- Pelican Flounder fact sheet
- View the Family Bothidae list
- View the Flatfishes list
Further reading
- Hoese, D.F., Bray, D.J., Paxton, J.R. & G.R. Allen. 2006. Fishes. In Beesley, P.L. & A. Wells. (eds) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Volume 35. ABRS & CSIRO Publishing: Australia. parts 1-3, pages 1-2178.
- Gilbert, C. H. 1905. II. The deep-sea fishes of the Hawaiian Islands. In: The aquatic resources of the Hawaiian Islands. Bull. U. S. Fish Comm. v. 23 (pt 2) [for 1903]: 577-713, Pls. 66-101. (p. 689 for C. prorigera)
- Jordan, D. S. and B. W. Evermann 1905 The aquatic resources of the Hawaiian Islands. Part I.--The shore fishes of the Hawaiian Islands, with a general account of the fish fauna. Bull. U. S. Fish Comm. v. 23 (pt 1) [1903]: i-xxviii + 1-574, Pls. 1-65, color Pls. 1-73. (p. 511 for C. crumenalis)
