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Turbot

The turbot is a large flatfish in the family Scophthalmidae, scientifically known as *Scophthalmus maximus*.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated September 10, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

The turbot is a large flatfish in the family Scophthalmidae, scientifically known as *Scophthalmus maximus*. It is native to marine and brackish waters of the Northeast Atlantic, Baltic Sea, and Mediterranean Sea, and is valued as a food fish. The common name is also used for several unrelated flatfish species, including Greenland turbot found in Canadian waters.

Taxonomy and naming

Turbot refers primarily to *Scophthalmus maximus*, a flatfish in the family Scophthalmidae. The name is sometimes applied to other flatfish species, so the term can be ambiguous in common usage.

Description

The turbot is a broad, left-eyed flatfish with a scaleless body covered in small bony tubercles. It can reach about 1 metre in length and around 25 kilograms in weight.

Distribution and habitat

Turbot occurs in marine and brackish waters of the Northeast Atlantic, Baltic Sea, and Mediterranean Sea. It is a bottom-dwelling fish associated with sandy, muddy, or gravelly seabeds.

Ecology and diet

Adult turbot feed mainly on other bottom-dwelling fish, crustaceans, and bivalves. It is a long-lived species that can survive for roughly 25 years.

Human use

Turbot is widely regarded as a high-value food fish and is important in commercial fisheries and aquaculture. It is especially associated with European cuisine and seafood markets.

Key facts

  • Turbot is a demersal flatfish that lives near the seabed.
  • It is native to the Northeast Atlantic, Baltic Sea, and Mediterranean Sea.
  • The species is a commercially valued food fish and is also farmed.
  • Turbot is typically left-eyed, with both eyes on the left side of the body.
  • Several other flatfish are also called turbot, including Greenland turbot, which is a different species.
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Canadian context

Turbot matters to Canadian readers because similar flatfish species occur in Canadian waters, and Greenland turbot is found in parts of Atlantic Canada and Arctic waters.[2]

Frequently asked questions

What is a turbot?
A turbot is a large flatfish species, *Scophthalmus maximus*, in the family Scophthalmidae.
Where does turbot live?
It lives in marine and brackish waters of the Northeast Atlantic, Baltic Sea, and Mediterranean Sea.
How big does turbot get?
It can grow to about 1 metre long and weigh roughly 25 kilograms.
Is turbot a left-eyed flatfish?
Yes. The species is described as left-eyed, with both eyes normally on the left side of the head.
Is turbot farmed?
Yes. Turbot is farmed as well as caught in the wild.
Are there other fish called turbot?
Yes. The common name is also used for other flatfish species, including Greenland turbot, which is not the same species.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turbot
    Supports: Scientific name, family, general description, and native range.
  2. Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/animal/turbot
    Supports: Description, size, body features, and note that the name is used for other flatfish.
  3. Aquaculture Stewardship Council — https://asc-aqua.org/learn-about-seafood-farming/farmed-flatfish/
    Supports: Habitat, diet, lifespan, size, and aquaculture use.
  4. Wikipedia — https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scophthalmus_maximus
    Supports: Species identity and that it is fished or farmed.
  5. NOAA Fisheries — https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/greenland-turbot
    Supports: Greenland turbot as a different species and its Canadian Arctic/Atlantic range.