Monday, 18 April 2011
seven popular flatfish are pacific halibut, turbot, summer flounder, starry flounder, winter flounder, plaice & sole
for a few days after hatching from the egg, the larva of a flatfish resembles that of any other fish but then it begins to change into the compressed, asymmetrical shape that make flatfish superbly adapted to a bottom-hugging life
there are over 500 species - the main families being the pleuronectidae or righteyed flatfish, in which both eyes are on the right side of the body; the bothidae or lefteyed flatfish, in which both eyes are on the left; and the soleidae or sole family, which contains mostly righteyed species
pacific halibut
hippoglossus stenolepis
this huge, righteyed flatfish & its atlantic counterpart are among the largest fish in the sea, probably capable of exceeding 800 ib (360 kg)
however, most caught by anglers are young fish weighing less tha 10 lb (4.54 kg), the largest adults being found in every deep water!
turbot
scophthalmus maximus, this large lefteyed flatfish is widely istributed in european waters & occurs from near the shoreline to the depths ofup to 260 ft (80 m)
the coloration of its upper side is typically light brown with dark speckles & blotches. generally matches the color of the bottom on which it lives
its maximum weight is about 33 lb (15 kg), scophthalmus maximus
summer flounder (paralichthys dentatus)
this lefteyed flatfish reach a weight of 26 lb (12 kg)
usually marked with numerous ocelli (rimmed spots), of which five near the tail are the large & prominent
good catch!
credits: flickr/ the new encyclopedia of fishing / numerous data
