| Turbot | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Carangiformes |
| Suborder: | Pleuronectoidei |
| Family: | Scophthalmidae |
| Genus: | Scophthalmus |
| Species: | S. maximus |
| Binomial name | |
| Scophthalmus maximus | |
| Synonyms | |
List
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Theturbot (/ˈtɜːrbət/TUR-bət[3]),Scophthalmus maximus is a relatively large species offlatfish in thefamilyScophthalmidae. It is ademersal fish native tomarine orbrackish waters of the Northeast Atlantic,Baltic Sea and theMediterranean Sea. It is an important food fish.[4] Turbot in theBlack Sea were often included in this species, but are now generally regarded as separate – theBlack Sea turbot or kalkan (S. maeoticus).[5] True turbot are not found in the Northwest Atlantic; the "turbot" of that region, which was involved in the so-called "Turbot War" between Canada and Spain, is theGreenland halibut or Greenland turbot (Reinhardtius hippoglossoides).[6] The nameturbot can refer to any member of the family Scolopthalmidae, and some other flatfish have similar common names (e.g. Spiny turbots of the genusPsettodes).
The word comes from theOld Frenchtourbout, which may be a derivative of theLatinturbo ('spinning top'), a possible reference to its shape.[7] Another possible origin of the Old French word is fromOld Swedishtörnbut, fromtörn 'thorn' +-but 'stump, butt, flatfish', which may also be a reference to its shape (compare native Englishhalibut).[8] Early reference to the turbot can be found in a satirical poem ("The Emperor's Fish") byJuvenal, a Roman poet of the late 1st and early 2nd centuries AD, suggesting this fish wasa delicacy in the Roman empire.
The turbot is a largeleft eyed flatfish found primarily close to shore in sandy shallow waters throughout theMediterranean, theBaltic Sea, theBlack Sea, and theNorth Atlantic. The European turbot has an asymmetric disk-shaped body, and has been known to grow up to one metre (40 inches) long and 25 kilograms (55 pounds) in weight.[4][9]
Turbot is highly prized as a food fish for its delicate flavour, and is also known asbrat,breet, orbritt. It is a valuable commercial species, acquired through aquaculture and trawling. Turbot are farmed inBulgaria,Canada,France,Spain,Portugal,Romania,Turkey,Chile,Norway, andChina.[10]Turbot has a bright white flesh that retains this appearance when cooked. Like all flatfish, turbot yields fourfillets with meatier topside portions that may bebaked,poached,steamed, orpan-fried.
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