Fish
European flounder
Platichthys flesus
(VIId) Eastern English Channel
Zone de pêche
Wild
Origine
30 cm
Taille minimale
Description
It is a flatfish with an oval body. Like most flatfish, both of its eyes are usually located on the right side of the body, but the flounder has a distinctive feature: about 30% of individuals have their eyes on the left side (known as “left-eyed” individuals). Its skin is dotted with small, rough bony plates (tubercles) along the lateral line and at the base of the dorsal and anal fins. This is the main distinguishing feature from the plaice (Pleuronectes), which has smooth skin. The eye side (top) is greenish-brown, grayish, or mottled, sometimes with diffuse reddish spots. The underside is opaque white. Its average size is 25 to 30 cm, but it can reach a maximum length of 60 cm and weigh nearly 3 kg.
Habitat
It is a euryhaline benthic fish, meaning it can tolerate a wide range of salinity levels. It is found in coastal waters, estuaries, and lagoons. It prefers muddy or silty bottoms, where it burrows to hide. It is generally found between 0 and 50 meters, although it can descend to depths of up to 100 meters in the open sea.
Distribution
It is found throughout the northeastern Atlantic. Its range extends from the White Sea and Norway in the north to the coast of Morocco in the south. It is extremely common in the Baltic Sea (where salinity is low), the North Sea, the English Channel, and the Bay of Biscay. It is also found in the Mediterranean Sea and the Black Sea.