Turbot

Overview

The turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) is a large, highly valued flatfish known for its nearly circular body shape and ability to camouflage against the seafloor. It is a demersal species that inhabits coastal waters, often found resting on sandy, rocky, or mixed substrates where it blends in with its surroundings.

Distribution & habitat

This species is widely distributed throughout the Northeast Atlantic, ranging from the Arctic Circle down to the Mediterranean and Black Seas, and is also present in the Baltic Sea. While adults typically occupy depths down to 70–100 meters, they are also common in brackish environments. Younger individuals often prefer shallower, inshore nursery areas, including the surf zone and coastal pools.

Appearance

Distinguished by its almost circular, flattened body, the turbot lies on its right side with both eyes positioned on the upper left side. Unlike many other flatfish, its skin lacks scales and is instead covered with scattered, prominent bony tubercles. Its coloration is highly variable, allowing it to mimic the texture and color of the substrate, typically appearing as a mottled sandy-brown or grey with darker speckles.

Biology & behavior

Turbot are solitary, bottom-dwelling fish that can live for up to 25 years. They are capable of changing their skin color to match their environment, a key adaptation for their cryptic lifestyle. During the winter, they often migrate to deeper waters to avoid colder surface temperatures.

Feeding

As carnivores, their diet shifts as they grow. Juveniles primarily consume small crustaceans and molluscs, while adults transition to a diet consisting mainly of other bottom-living fish, such as sand-eels, gobies, and cod, as well as cephalopods.

Reproduction

Turbot are batch spawners, releasing pelagic eggs into the water column over a period of several weeks. Spawning typically occurs between February and April in the Mediterranean and from May to August in the Atlantic. After hatching, the larvae are initially symmetric but undergo a metamorphosis where the right eye migrates to the left side of the head before they settle on the seafloor.