Alan Davidson

Scaldfish

Arnoglossus laterna (Walbaum)

Appears in
top 1000North Atlantic Seafood
North Atlantic Seafood

By Alan Davidson

Published 1980

  • About

Family Bothidae

  • Portuguese: Areeiro, Carta
  • Spanish: Peluda
  • French: Fausse limande
  • Dutch: Schurftvis
  • German: Lammzunge
  • Swedish: Tungevar
  • Norwegian: Tungevar
  • Danish: Tungehvarre

REMARKS Maximum length nearly 20 cm. A brown or grey fish with diffuse darker marks. Its range is from the Mediterranean to Norway; its habitat inshore waters.

The name scaldfish refers to the fact that its scales come off very easily, so that captured specimens have a ‘scalded’ appearance.

CUISINE One of the less good flatfish, as the alternative French name sole maudite would suggest. But it may be met in the markets and is worth eating. Fry, poach or steam.