Imperial scaldfish (Arnoglossus imperialis)

Scientific name: Arnoglossus imperialis Rafinesque, 1810

The Imperial scaldfish (Arnoglossus imperialis) is a marine fish of the family Bothidae. Native range: Eastern Atlantic, Scotland to Namibia, including the western Mediterranean.

Biology

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 95-106; Anal soft rays: 74 - 82. Eyes separated by a bony ridge, the lower eye a little in advance of the upper. In males, the second to sixth and in females, the second to fifth dorsal fin rays thickened and prolonged. Males with distinct black spot on posterior part of pelvic fins; in females, this spot present but greyish and often indistinct.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name: Arnoglossus imperialis
Family: Bothidae (Lefteye flounders)
Order: Pleuronectiformes (Flatfishes)
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 25.0
Common length: 12.0
Depth range: 20–350 m (66–1148 ft)
Environment: Marine; demersal; depth range 20 - 350 m, usually 40 - 200 m
Climate: Subtropical
Distribution: Eastern Atlantic: Scotland to Namibia, including the western Mediterranean.
Conservation status (IUCN): Least Concern (LC)
Threat to humans: Harmless
Uses: Fisheries: commercial
Resilience: Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)

Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Last updated 27 September 2026