Witch (righteye flounder)
Dog tongue ( Glyptocephalus cynoglossus )
The dog tongue or witch flounder ( Glyptocephalus cynoglossus ), also called Aalbutt, is a rechtsäugiger flatfish of the North Atlantic from the family of plaice ( Pleuronectidae ), not the dog tongues ( Cynoglossidae ). The name witch is ( Microstomus kitt ) used for the lemon sole.
Description
The slim ( 3 - to 4 - times as long as high ) flatfish small compared to plaice and flounder head is long up to 50 cm. The lateral line is complete and runs contrary to dab, but as with the lemon sole straight. The pectoral fin of the eye side, with blackish hem is shorter than the head. On the blind side of the head are large mucous pores. The dog tongue is solid scaly gray to red-brown and rough.
Dissemination and lifestyle
The dog tongue occurs in temperate latitudes on both sides of the North Atlantic Ocean, on the European coast ( including the North Sea ) from the North of Spain up to and including Norway, at the North American from St. Lawrence Gulf to North Carolina.
It inhabits muddy bottoms in 18 to 1570m depth and feeds there of crustaceans, bristle worms, brittle stars and fish. You propagates only slowly: To double the population it needs 4 ½ to 14 years.
Use and threats
The dog tongue is hardly known in Germany; where it is known, but it is a valued and expensive edible fish. Due to the relatively slow propagation it is considered to be sensitive to overfishing.