Mediterranean scaldfish facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mediterranean scaldfish |
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| A fully grown scaldfish from the southern North Sea | |
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| A scaldfish larva, measuring approximately 9 millimetres (0.35 in) in length | |
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The Mediterranean scaldfish (Arnoglossus laterna) is a type of flatfish. It is also known simply as the scaldfish. This fish lives on the seabed and has both of its eyes on the left side of its head. You can find it in the eastern Atlantic Ocean, near Europe and Africa, and also in the Mediterranean Sea.
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About the Scaldfish
The Mediterranean scaldfish is a small fish. It has a thin, oval-shaped body. Its head is small, but its eyes are quite large. Both eyes are on the left side of its head.
It has a mouth that points a bit upwards. The fin on its back, called the dorsal fin, starts in front of its upper eye. The first few rays of this fin are a bit separate from the rest. The fin on its belly, on the eyed side, is larger than the one on its blind side.
Scaldfish have thin, delicate scales. They are usually pale brownish-grey. They often have dark spots on their body and fins. There is also a dark spot on their belly fins.
How Males and Females Differ
Male and female scaldfish look a bit different. This is called sexual dimorphism. Males have some fin rays that are unusually long. This helps tell them apart from the females. This fish can grow up to 25 centimeters (about 10 inches) long.
Where Scaldfish Live
The Mediterranean scaldfish lives in many places. It can be found from Trondheim, Norway, in the north. From there, it spreads south along the eastern Atlantic Ocean all the way to Angola in Africa.
It also lives in the warm waters of the Mediterranean Sea and the Black Sea. You can also find it near the island of Madeira.
Scaldfish Habitat and Life Cycle
Mediterranean scaldfish usually live on the upper part of the continental shelf. This is the edge of the continent that slopes into the ocean. They prefer areas with mixed or muddy bottoms. They can live in waters up to 200 meters (about 650 feet) deep.
They are benthic, which means they live on the bottom of the sea. They eat small fish and other tiny sea creatures without backbones, like worms or crustaceans.
Reproduction
Scaldfish have their breeding season from May to August. This is when they lay their eggs. Young scaldfish are called larvae. They change into adult fish when they are about 16 to 23 millimeters long. This change is called metamorphosis. In some areas, like off the coast of Brittany, scaldfish can live for up to eight years.
Scaldfish and Fishing
The Mediterranean scaldfish is not a very important fish for commercial fishing. When they are caught, they are often sold in local markets.
Sometimes, scaldfish are caught by accident. This is called by-catch. For example, in the northeastern Mediterranean, they are often caught in fishing nets that drag along the bottom. But they are usually thrown back into the sea. In other places, like the eastern central Atlantic, some of the scaldfish caught by large fishing boats are used by smaller, local fishing groups. These fish might be eaten fresh or dried.
