Fish i.d. needed - River Thames

Words · #1 (**permalink**) 12-01-2009, 10:21 PM

I saw a cormorant struggling with a large flat fish this morning, by Tower Bridge in London and wondered what the fish was. I watched for about 5 minutes at multiple attempts by the cormorant to swallow it (without any obvious success). Not sure of the final outcome as I had to head off to a meeting.

Sorry for poor quality of the shots, but hopefully enough here for you to see.

Matt_IOM · #2 (**permalink**) 12-01-2009, 10:32 PM

It is possibly a Flounder, but not 100% sure...

Words · #3 (**permalink**) 12-01-2009, 10:55 PM

Thanks Matt!

tcvarlh · #4 (**permalink**) 12-01-2009, 11:07 PM

I thought you might like this list:

FISH OF THE THAMES ESTUARY

The fish species listed below have been caught in the tidal River Thames between Fulham and Tilbury since 1964. The list is not necessarily indicative of the species that are currently present.

Freshwater

Barbel
Bleak
Bream
Bullhead
Carp
Carp, Crucian
Catfish, Wels
Chub
Dace
Goldfish
Grayling
Gudgeon
Loach
Minnow
Perch
Pike
Roach
Rudd
Ruffe
Tench
Zander

Hybrid
Roach x Bream

Euryhaline (Brackish)

Bass
Eel
Flounder
Lampern
Lamprey
Salmon
Shad, Allis
Shad, Twaite
Smelt
Stickleback, 3-sp.
Stickleback,10-sp.
Trout
Trout, Rainbow

Marine

Anchovy
Angler Fish
Blue Mouth
Brill
Butterfish
Catfish, Channel
Cod
Coalfish
Conger Eel
Dab
Dab,Long Rough (unconfirmed)
Dory
Dragonet
Eckstrom Topknot
Garfish
Goby, Black
Goby, Common
Goby, Leopard Spotted
Goby, Painted
Goby, Rock
Goby, Sand
Goby, Sand (P.lozanoi)
Goby, Transparent
Goldsinny
Gurnard, Grey
Gurnard, Red
Gurnard, Streaked
Gurnard, Tub
Haddock
Hake
Herring
Ling
Lumpsucker
Mackerel
Mullet, Golden
Mullet, Red
Mullet, Thick-Lipped
Mullet, Thin-Lipped
Norway Bullhead
Pilchard
Pipefish, Broad-Nosed
Pipefish, Great
Pipefish, Nilsson's
Pipefish, Snake
Pipefish, Straight- nosed
Pipefish,Worm
Plaice
Pogge
Pollack
Poor-Cod
Pouting
Ray, Sting
Rockling, 5-Bearded
Rockling, 4-Bearded
Rockling, 3-Bearded
Rockling, Northern
Rockling, Shore
Roker
Sand Eel
Sand Eel, Greater
Sand Eel, Raitt's
Sand-Smelt
Scad
Scaldfish
Sea Bream, Black
Sea Horse (H.hippocampus)
Sea Horse (H.ramulosus)
Sea Scorpion, Long Spined
Sea Scorpion, Short Spined
Sea Snail
Sea Snail, Montagu's
Sea Stickleback
Sea Skipper
Smooth Hound
Sole, Dover
Sole, Lemon
Solenette
Sprat
Tadpole-Fish
Blenny, Tompot
Trigger-Fish
Weever, Greater
Weever, Lesser
Whiting
Whiting, Blue
Wrasse, Ballan
Wrasse, Corkwing

120 species + 1 hybrid

In addition the following species have been caught between Tilbury and Sea Reach No.1 Buoy: Undulate Ray, Sun Fish, Turbot and Viviparous Blenny.

Thames can't be that polluted can it?

H

Words · #5 (**permalink**) 12-01-2009, 11:14 PM

That's an impressive list. They've done a good job with it.

tcvarlh · #6 (**permalink**) 13-01-2009, 12:05 AM

'tis isn't it? Did not know we had seahorses tho' Amazing

Wild-Woman · #7 (**permalink**) 13-01-2009, 06:18 AM

Definitely one of the flatfishes.

Dogghound · #8 (**permalink**) 13-01-2009, 08:34 AM

It is likely a flounder due to them being very common in esturine habitats, although it could be a dab, theres no way you can differenciate the two from this photo. I dont think its a plaice but again you just carnt quite see. Plaice usually have orange spots and on the fins, these often can be variable.

coasty · #9 (**permalink**) 13-01-2009, 08:43 AM

I reckon although technically it could be a dab and there is a very slim chance it could be a plaice I am pretty sure its a flounder due to the location in brackish water..