Author: Delaroche, 1809
Bothus podas Delaroche, 1809
Status in World Register of Marine Species:
Accepted name: Bothus podas (Delaroche, 1809) (updated 2009-06-25)
Diagnosis: dorsal fin with 85-95 rays, anal fin with 63-73 rays. Scales ctenoid on eyed and cycloid on blind side. Lateral line with 75-91 scales. Inter-orbital width much greater in male. Upper pectoral finrays not prolonged. Colour: see subspecies. Size: to about 45 cm SL.
Habitat: benthic on shallow depths. Food: small fishes and invertebrates. Reproduction: between May and August.
Distribution: Mediterranean and eastern Atlantic southward along African coast; also Madeira and the Canaries. Elsewhere, southward to Angola.
Subspecies
Bothus podas podas Delaroche, 1809 : lateralline with 75-86 scales, of which 13-20 form the lateral line curve. Eyed side light brown, with a varying number of darker spots; Mediterranean
and African coast south to Angola (Clofnam 196.1.1.1).
Eggs, larvae and young stages. Norman, 1934: 224 (references) | Padoa, 1956b: 810-814 | Bini, 1968, 8: 40, fig.
Otoliths (sagitta). Chaine, 1936: 52.
Bothus podas maderensis Lowe, 1834 : lateral line with 88-91 scales, of which 20-21 form the lateral line curve. Eyed side dark brown to dark violet, seldom with spots; Madeira and the Canaries (Clofnam 196.1.1.2).
Eggs, larvae and young stages. No data.
Otoliths (sagitta). No data.