| Main Ref. | Nielsen, J.G., 1986 |
| Appearance refers to | Male; Female |
| Bones in OsteoBase |
| Specialized organs | no special organs |
| Different appearance | males alike females |
| Different colors | males alike females |
| Remarks |
| Striking features | flatfish |
| Body shape lateral | short and / or deep |
| Cross section | flattened |
| Dorsal head profile | |
| Type of eyes | asymmetric |
| Type of mouth/snout | more or less normal |
| Position of mouth | |
| Type of scales | cycloid and ctenoid scales |
| Diagnosis |
The scales on the eyed side are ctenoid and cycloid on the blind side. The inter-orbital width is much wider in males. The upper pectoral fin rays are not prolonged. The subspecies in the Mediterranean and African coast, P. podas has 75-86 lateral line scales, with 13-20 scales making up the curved portion. Its eyed side has alight brown color, bearing darker spots. The subspecies in Madeira and the Canaries, B. p. maderensis, has 88-91 lateral line scales, with 20-21 on the lateral line curve. Its eyed side appears dark brown to dark violet and seldom spotted. |
| Ease of Identification |
| Lateral Lines | 1 Interrupted: No |
| Scales on lateral line | 75 - 91 |
| Pored lateral line scales | |
| Scales in lateral series | |
| Scale rows above lateral line | |
| Scale rows below lateral line | |
| Scales around caudal peduncle | |
| Barbels | 0 |
| Gill clefts (sharks/rays only) | |
| Gill rakers | |
| on lower limb | |
| on upper limb | |
| total | |
| Vertebrae | |
| preanal | |
| total |
| Attributes | extending over most of the back length |
| Fins number | 1 |
| Finlets No. | Dorsal 0 - 0 |
| Ventral 0 | |
| Spines total | |
| Soft-rays total | 85 - 95 |
| Adipose fin | absent |
| Attributes |
| Fins number | 1 |
| Spines total | |
| Soft-rays total | 63 - 73 |
| Pectoral | Attributes more or less normal |
| Spines | |
| Soft-rays | |
| Pelvics | Attributes more or less normal |
| Position jugular behind origin of D1 | |
| Spines 0 | |
| Soft-rays |