Plate Fish, scientifically known as Bothus lunatus, is found in warm parts of the Atlantic Ocean, including the Caribbean.
It usually lives near coral reefs on sandy plains and can change its color to blend in with its surroundings. This fish is also related to the Indo-Pacific’s Bothus mancus.
You can find it near mangroves, seagrass, coral, or rubble. It is a common type of flounder around coral reefs and often hides by burying itself in sand or staying on hard surfaces.
Plate Fish mainly eats small fish but will also consume crustaceans and octopuses. This fish is sold fresh in markets. However, It’s not reef-safe.
Plate Fish Interesting Facts
- Plate Fish can change its color to blend in with its surroundings, helping it hide from predators.
- This fish eats small fish, crustaceans, and octopuses and is often sold fresh in markets.
- Found in the Western and Eastern Atlantic Oceans, it prefers coral reefs and can be found at depths up to 100 meters.
- Plate Fish has unique light blue circles, spots, and dots on its body, making it easily identifiable.
Plate Fish Habitat
Plate Fish is found in the Western and Eastern Atlantic Oceans.
In the Western Atlantic, it lives from Florida (USA), Bermuda, and the Bahamas to Brazil but isn’t found in the Gulf of Mexico. In the Eastern Atlantic, it’s found around Ascension Island and the Gulf of Guinea.
This marine fish prefers coral reefs and is usually seen at depths of 0 to 20 meters, but is also found up to 100 meters deep.
It thrives in tropical waters with a geographical range of latitude 34°N to 25°S and longitude 91°W to 5°E.
| Water Temperature: | Unknown |
| Water pH: | Unknown |
| Water Hardness: | Unknown |
Plate Fish Physical Characteristics
Size: 13.8 inches (35.0 centimeters)
Plate Fish can grow up to a maximum length of 18.1 inches (46.0 centimeters), but it’s usually found around 13.8 inches (35.0 centimeters) long.
It has 92 to 99 soft rays on its dorsal fin and 71 to 76 soft rays on its anal fin. Plate Fish is gray to brown in color with light blue circles, curved spots, and dots on its head and body.
Its fins also have small light blue spots. Additionally, it has two or three large blackish spots along the straight part of its lateral line.
Plate Fish Scientific Classification
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Pleuronectiformes |
| Family: | Bothidae |
| Genus: | Bothus |
| Scientific Name: | Bothus lunatus |
| Also Known As: | Plate Fish |
| Conservation Status: | Least Concern |