The borbothis is found in some medieval encyclopedias. It resembles an eel and can be skinned like one, and has a slippery body. Its head is large in relation to its body and it has a broad mouth. Its roe (eggs) are the best and most delectable of all fish eggs.

There is a similarly named fish, the bothis, which is described entirely differently. The relation between them, if any, is unknown.