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Scophthalmus maximus  (Linnaeus, 1758)

Turbot
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Scophthalmus maximus
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Denmark country information

Common names: Pighvarre
Occurrence: native
Salinity: marine
Abundance: common (usually seen) | Ref: Winkler, H.M., K. Skora, R. Repecka, M. Ploks, A. Neelov, L. Urho, A. Gushin and H. Jespersen, 2000
Importance: minor commercial | Ref:
Aquaculture: | Ref:
Regulations: protected | Ref:
Uses: no uses
Comments: Occurs in all the waters around Denmark. Minimum size limit in TL: 30 cm. Protected in some parts of the Baltic Sea and parts of the Belts in the period: 1. June - 31. July (Ref. 10963). Also Ref. 173.
National Checklist:
Country Information: httpss://www.cia.gov/library/publications/resources/the-world-factbook/geos/da.html
National Fisheries Authority:
Occurrences: Occurrences Point map
Main Ref: Muus, B.J. and P. Dahlstrøm, 1989
National Database:

Classification / Names

Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) > Pleuronectiformes (Flatfishes) > Scophthalmidae (Turbots)
Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes (gen., sp.) | ITIS | CoL

Common names from other countries

Main reference

Size / Weight / Age

Max length : 100.0 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 4703); common length : 50.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 35388); common length :70 cm TL (female); max. published weight: 25.0 kg (Ref. 9988); max. reported age: 25 years (Ref. 32766)

Length at first maturity
Lm 34.7, range 41 - 54 cm

Environment

Marine; brackish; demersal; oceanodromous (Ref. 51243); depth range 20 - 70 m (Ref. 6302)

Climate / Range

Temperate, preferred 10°C (Ref. 107945); 70°N - 30°N, 23°W - 36°E

Distribution

Northeast Atlantic: throughout the Mediterranean and along the European coasts to Arctic Circle; also found in most of the Baltic Sea. Subspecies Psetta maxima maeotica in the Black Sea.
Countries | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Introductions

Short description

Body almost circular. Eye side without scales but with large bony tubercles (Ref. 35388).

Biology     Glossary (e.g. epibenthic)

Adults live on sandy, rocky or mixed bottoms; rather common in brackish waters. Feed mainly on other bottom-living fishes (sand-eels, gobies, etc.), and also, to a lesser extent, on larger crustaceans and bivalves. Batch spawner (Ref. 51846). Spawning season is between April and August; pelagic eggs. May reach 25 kg (Ref. 9988). Highly esteemed food fish. Utilized fresh or frozen; eaten steamed, pan-fried, broiled, boiled, microwaved and baked (Ref. 9988).

IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 115185)

Threat to humans

  Harmless



Human uses

Fisheries: commercial; aquaculture: commercial; gamefish: yes; aquarium: public aquariums

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Internet sources

Estimates of some properties based on models

Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref. 82805)
PD50 = 0.5645 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Trophic Level (Ref. 69278)
4.4   ±0.0 se; Based on diet studies.

Resilience (Ref. 69278)
Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (K=0.15-0.28; tm=3-5; tmax=26; Fec=5 million)

Vulnerability (Ref. 59153)
Moderate vulnerability (43 of 100)
Price category (Ref. 80766)
Very high