Microstomus kitt (Walbaum 1792)

Body rather deep. Its depth two to three times in standard length. Mout very small, not reaching lower eye. Lateral line with a slight curve above pectoral fin; scales 110-125. First interhaemal spine not projecting in front of anal fin. Dorsal finrays 85 to 97. Anal finrays 69 to 76; eyed side marbled with thick skin and partly embedded cycloid scales. Colour generally warm brown with irregular mahogany markings and flecks of yellow and green on the eyed side.

Eastern Atlantic, from the Bay of Biscay to the White Sea and off Iceland.

To about 45 cm, seldom more than 20-30 cm.

Benthic, lives on a wide range of bottoms from mud (exceptionally), and sand, gravel, even rocky grounds,in depths of 20-200 m,particularly on offshore banks.Feeds on a variety of small invertebrates, but worms seem to dominate. Apparently they do not feed in wintertime. It spawns in spring and summer in depths of 100 m. It becomes sexually mature at 3-4 years (males), 4-6 years (females), and may live for 17 years.

It is a moderately important food-fish, caught mainly in trawls. The most common fishing techniques are "demersal bottom trawling" and "small flatfish (flounders, soles) bottom trawling". The total catch reported for this species to FAO for 1999 was 14 152 t. The countries with the largest catches were UK (5 010 t) and Iceland (1 860 t). Marketed fresh and frozen; eaten steamed, fried, broiled, microwaved and baked.