44. Brachirus orientalis (Bloch & Schneider, 1801)

Oriental sole (Figure 45)

Material examined: 1 ex.; 22.07.11; Shankarpur, Reg. No. MARC /ZSI/F3748 .

Description: Body oval and flat, both contours equally arched. Eyes on right side, separated by a scaly space; mouth small, curved, cleft reaching to below middle of lower eye. Dorsal and anal fins joined to caudal fin; pectoral fins well developed. Colour grey or brown with cloudy indistinct patches on eyed side, tinged yellow on blind side; pectoral fin on eyed side darker. Size: 24 cm.

Distribution: Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea and Persian Gulf, then off the west coast of India and Sri Lanka, eastward through the Malay Peninsula and Archipelago to China and northern Australia.

Remarks: The fish has a commercial value.