Description: The megrim is a relatively narrow-bodied left-eyed flatfish with a moderately large head and large eyes and mouth. The lower eye is slightly forward of the upper eye and the lower jaw is forward of the upper jaw. The background colour is usually a pale yellowish-brown with darker dusky patches. The underside is white. Adult fish can grow to 60cm in length although most are between 35-45cm.

Habitat: Mostly found on soft mud or muddy sand at depths between 50-300m. It mainly feeds on other fish e.g. sandeels, dragonets and gobies.

Distribution: This species is widespread around the coasts of Britain and Ireland but appears to be absent from the east coast of England and the eastern half of the English Channel.

Similar Species: This species is similar to the four-spot megrim (Lepidorhombus boscii), however in this species the eyes are level with one another and there are two black spots on the end of both the dorsal and anal fins.

Key Identification Features:

• Left-eyed flatfish
• Large head, eyes and mouth
• Lower eye slightly in front of upper eye
• Lower jaw prominent to upper jaw

Distribution Map from NBN: Lepidorhombus whiffiagonis at National Biodiversity Network mapping facility, data for UK.

iNaturalist: Lepidorhombus whiffiagonis at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.

WoRMS: Lepidorhombus whiffiagonis at World Register of Marine Species. Accepted name: Lepidorhombus whiffiagonis (Walbaum, 1792). AphiaID: 127146.

Classification: Biota; Animalia; Chordata; Vertebrata; Gnathostomata; Osteichthyes; Actinopterygii; Actinopteri; Teleostei; Pleuronectiformes; Scophthalmidae; Lepidorhombus