肉質は白身で極めて良質。日本産のヒラメParalichthys olivaceusに極めてよく類似するが,ヒラメよりやや小型。永年本種に対して用いられたParalichthys patagonicus jordan et Goss, 1899は本種の異名(Menni, Ringuelet and Aramburu, 1984)。
(中村 泉)
Material examined:
10 from Argentina (317.5-492.5 mm SL), FAKU 42950, 43048-43051, 43190; AP 314, 315, 824, 825.
Description:
D 77-86; A 62-67; P110-12; P2 T, 5; GR 2-3+10-13=13-15; BR 7; LLS 104-124.
HL 25.3-30.4% of SL; ED 2.1-3.2; BO 3.8-5.4; BD 43.2-46.0; SN 5.6-6.5; IO 2.0-2.7; UJ 11.5-12.2; CP 9.3-11.1; P1L 11.9-13.2; P2L 6.4-7.5; DH 9.7-10.6; AH 9.4-11.4.
Body elliptical and extremely depressed, body depth 2.2-2.4 times in SL. Head small, about 4 times in SL. Snout long, 1.6-1.8 times of fleshy orbit. Upper profile of head slightly concave or fairly straight. Upper eye slightly anterior to lower eye, fleshy orbit 6-7 in head. Mouth curved, oblique, posterior of upper jaw reaching posterior margin of lower eye or slightly beyond. Strong conical teeth uniserial on both jaws, teeth on lower jaw larger than teeth on upper jaw. Gill-rakers short, stout with fine inner serrations. Pseudobranchiae present. Nostrils on ocular side closely situated each other; anterior nostril round with a long flap posteriorly and posterior nostril oval or crescent without a flap. Nostrils on blind side situated near dorsal margin; anterior nostril round with a long flap; posterior nostril oval without a flap. Dorsal fin originating from blind side slightly anterior to anterior margin of upper eye. Pectoral fins small, about 2 times in head on ocular side, 2.7-3.0 times in head on blind side. Pelvic fins about equal in size and shape on both sides. Anal fin base slightly shorter than dorsal fin base. Caudal fin double truncate. All fin rays not brached except caudal fin rays. Small scales on body and head except anterior part; scales on ocular side ctenoid and on blind side cycloid. Fine scales on bases of dorsal, anal and caudal fins. Lateral line with a branch and a curving anteriorly and fairly straight posteriorly.
Distribution:
The Atlantic coast of South America, from Brazil to Argentine Patagonia.
Remarks:
Norman (1934) recognized 19 species belonging to Paralichthys. Since then, no comprehensive review on this genus have been reported.
(Izumi NAKAMURA)
Distribution of Paralichthys brasiliensis in Patagonia.