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Crossorhombus pescadores

Crossorhombus pescadores, the Pescadores flounder, is a species of lefteye flounder in the family Bothidae. It is found in the western Pacific Ocean around the Penghu Islands of Taiwan.

Taxonomy

Crossorhombus pescadores was formally described in 2026 by Kunio Amaoka, Yo Su, and Hsuan-Ching Ho based on specimens collected from the Penghu Islands in the Taiwan Strait. It is the sixth recognized species in the genus Crossorhombus.

The specific name pescadores refers to the historical Portuguese name for the Penghu Islands, meaning "fishermen".

Description

Crossorhombus pescadores is a small, oval-bodied flatfish with a compressed body and both eyes located on the left (ocular) side. It has a relatively large head, small eyes, and a deep body compared to related species.

The species is distinguished by several key characteristics:

  • A pair of small black spots on the caudal (tail) fin
  • A light-gray band along the posterior margin of the caudal fin
  • A series of dark blotches along the dorsal and ventral margins of the body
  • Smaller eyes and fewer fin rays and lateral-line scales than related species

Adult males possess a distinctive horizontal triangular bluish-black marking on the blind side of the body, with anterior extensions reaching the bases of the dorsal and anal fins. This marking is absent in females and may develop later in males compared to other species in the genus.

Distribution and habitat

The species is known from the waters around the Penghu Islands in the Taiwan Strait, western Pacific Ocean. Specimens were collected at depths of approximately 10–30 meters.

Individuals were obtained as bycatch in a silver-stripe round herring fishery, indicating that the species inhabits coastal marine environments.

Biology

Like other members of the family Bothidae, C. pescadores is a demersal flatfish that lives on or near the seafloor. It exhibits sexual dimorphism, with males developing distinct coloration patterns on the blind side of the body.

The triangular marking characteristic of males appears later in development compared to related species, which may serve as an additional diagnostic feature.

Identification

Crossorhombus pescadores can be distinguished from other species in the genus by the combination of:

  • Two black spots on the caudal fin (as opposed to bands or uniform coloration in related species)
  • A triangular bluish-black marking in males (compared to elliptical, heart-shaped, or V-shaped markings in other species)
  • Differences in body proportions, including head size, eye size, and fin ray counts

References