European flounder (Platichthys flesus)
Key facts
- Scientific name
- Platichthys flesus
- Common name
- European flounder
- Category
- Fish
- Family
- Pleuronectidae
- Genus
- Platichthys
- Size
- 20–60 cm
- Depth
- 0–100 m
- IUCN status
- Least concern (LC)
- Danger level
- Harmless
- Habitats
- sand, mud
- Behaviours
- solitary
- Ocean zones
- East Atlantic
Description
Platichthys flesus reaches 60 cm. Flatfish (Pleuronectidae) Northeast temperate Atlantic, North Sea, Baltic, western Mediterranean. Right-eyed flat (rare cases left-eyed) green-brown to gray-brown body with characteristic small bony tubercles (hence flesus). Very tolerant to freshwater: lives in estuaries, river mouths, brackish lagoons and coastal sea from 0 to 100 m. Freshwater-marine migration. Important commercial and sport fishery. Wide-angle photo subject of estuarine dives.
Photo of European flounder
Frequently asked questions
- How big is the European flounder?
- European flounder (Platichthys flesus) reaches 20–60 cm in length.
- At what depth can you find the European flounder?
- European flounder is found between 0–100 m deep.
- Is the European flounder dangerous to divers?
- Danger level: Harmless.
- What is the conservation status of the European flounder?
- IUCN status: Least concern (LC).
- Where can you find the European flounder?
- Found in: East Atlantic.
Other species in the family Pleuronectidae
- Pleuronectes platessa - European plaice
- Hippoglossus hippoglossus - Atlantic halibut
- Glyptocephalus cynoglossus - Witch flounder
- Microstomus kitt - Lemon sole
- Limanda limanda - Common dab
- Hippoglossoides platessoides - American plaice
Sources
- Taxonomy: WoRMS (AphiaID 127141)
- Photos: iNaturalist (CC BY-NC)
- Distribution: GBIF (taxonKey 2409330)
- Conservation: IUCN Red List
- Encyclopedia: Wikipedia