Witch
D-Hundszunge, Zungenbutt; GB-Witch flounder; DK-Skærising; PL-Szkarlacica; EST-Harilik pikklest; RU-Камбала длинная ; FIN-Mustaeväkampela; S-Rödtunga
Characters
1) Mouth small (shorter than diameter of eye).
2) Dorsal fin beginns above eye.
3) Lateral line very straight.
●) Body flattened, both eyes on the right side.
●) Cavities filled with mucus on the blind side.
●) Body surface brownish or greyish, occasionally with dark spots.
Usually below 40 cm, max. up to 60 cm length.
Similar species
Scaldfish - both eyes on the left body side; mouth larger.
Long rough dab - mouth much larger; rough surface (vs. smooth in witch).
Lemon sole - lateral line slightly curved; no mucus filled cavities on the blind side of head.
Common sole - inferior mouth; dorsal fin beginns before eye.
Solenette - inferior mouth; dorsal fin beginns before eye.
Biology
Bottom-living on soft grounds in 50 to 500 m depth. Not until a size of 4 cm the pelagic living larvae change to the bottom live. Life expectancy up to 25 years.Diet
Feeds on small bottom-living animals like brittle stars, worms and crustaceans, but also on small fish.Importance
Is commercially used.Glyptocephalus cynoglossus
