Turbot Identification Guide
Recognize turbot by its nearly circular, scaleless body studded with bony tubercles and sandy camouflage pattern.
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Key identification features
- Left-eyed flatfish with a broad, almost circular to diamond-shaped body outline
- Skin lacks true scales; instead it is scattered with small, rounded bony tubercles, giving a knobby texture
- Sandy brown to greyish-olive mottled pattern that closely matches the surrounding seabed
- Both eyes positioned on the left side of the head, with a relatively straight lateral line
- Large mouth and a slightly protruding lower jaw
- Can grow large, often 50-80 cm, occasionally larger
Common look-alikes
- Brill – has fine scales rather than bony tubercles and a more oval, elongated body shape.
- Common flatfish species generally – most are right-eyed, so checking which side the eyes sit on quickly rules them out.
Where you'll see one
Turbot favor sandy and gravelly seabeds around European coasts, including the North Sea, Baltic, and Mediterranean, typically in waters up to about 100 m deep. They rely heavily on camouflage, often lying half-buried in sediment with only their eyes and outline visible to passing prey.
Frequently asked questions
What is the quickest way to tell a turbot from a brill?
Run a finger over the skin: turbot feels knobby due to scattered bony tubercles and lacks true scales, while brill has smooth, fine scales and a more elongated body.
Which side are a turbot's eyes on?
Turbot are left-eyed, meaning both eyes sit on the left side of the head when the fish is viewed with its head pointing left and the eyed side up.