Winter flounder, Pseudopleuronectes americanus

Flounder (rarely: flukes) are flatfish that live in ocean waters ie. The winter flounder, Pseudopleuronectes americanus, (also known as black back) is a Flatfish of the family Pleuronectidae. The flatfish are an order ( Pleuronectiformes) of Ray-finned fish, also called the Heterosomata sometimes classified as a suborder of Perciformes , Northern Atlantic and waters along the east coast of the United States and Canada, and the Pacific Ocean, as well. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth 's Oceanic divisions The name "flounder" refers to several geographically and taxonomically distinct species. In Europe, the name flounder refers to Platichthys flesus, in the Western Atlantic there are the summer flounder Paralichthys dentatus, southern flounder Paralichthys lethostigma, and the winter flounder Pseudopleuronectes americanus, among other species. The European Flounder ( Platichthys flesus) is a Flatfish of Northern European Coastal waters The southern (or armless) flounders are a small family of Flounders found in Antarctic and sub-Antarctic waters The winter flounder, Pseudopleuronectes americanus, (also known as black back) is a Flatfish of the family Pleuronectidae. In Japan, the Japanese flounder Paralichthys olivaceus is common. The Olive flounder or Bastard halibut ( Paralichthys olivaceus;) is a species of large-tooth flounder native to the north-western Pacific Ocean

While flounders have both eyes situated on one side of the head, flukes are not born this way. Their life involves metamorphosis. Metamorphosis is a Biological process by which an Animal physically develops after Birth or hatching involving a conspicuous and relatively During metamorphosis, one eye migrates to the other side of the body so that both eyes are situated on the upward-facing side of its body. After metamorphosis, flounder lie on one side on the ocean floor; either the left or right side might face upward depending on the species. Flounder sizes typically vary from five to fifteen inches, though they sometimes grow as large as three feet in length. Their breadth is about one-half of their length. Flounder are ambush predators and their feeding ground is the soft mud of the sea bottom, near bridge piles, docks, and other bottom encumbrances; they are sometimes found on bass grounds as well. Their diet consists mainly of fish spawn, crustaceans, polychaetes and small fish. Structure of crustaceans As Arthropods crustaceans have a stiff Exoskeleton, which must be shed to allow the animal to grow ( Ecdysis or molting The Polychaeta or polychaetes are a class of Annelid worms generally marine

Surprise finding

Among other sea creatures, Flounders were found at the bottom of Marianas trench, the deepest location on the earth's crust. The Mariana Trench (or Mariana's Trench) is the deepest part of the world's Oceans and the deepest location on the surface of the Earth 's Swiss scientist Jacques Piccard and US Navy Lt. Jacques Piccard (born July 28, 1922) is a Swiss explorer and engineer known for having developed underwater vehicles for studying ocean currents Don Walsh reached a depth of 10,900 meters (35,810 feet) and were surprised to discover soles or flounder about 30 cm (1 ft) long, as well as shrimp there. Don Walsh (born 2 November, 1931) is an American oceanographer explorer and marine policy specialist The soles are Flatfishes of various families Generally speaking they are the members of the family Soleidae, but outside Europe, the name 'sole' is also

History

Hough's Neck in Quincy, Massachusetts was once considered the "Flounder capital of the world" due to the abundance of the species there. Hough's Neck is a one-square-mile peninsula in Quincy Massachusetts. Pollution levels in Boston Harbor during the 1980s have depleted the population, but there have been signs of a comeback.

Threats

A flounder blending into its environment

World stocks of large predatory fish and large ground fish such as sole and flounder were estimated in 2003 to be only about 10% of pre-industrial levels, largely due to overfishing. The soles are Flatfishes of various families Generally speaking they are the members of the family Soleidae, but outside Europe, the name 'sole' is also Most overfishing is credited to the commercial fisherman. ^[1][2][3] Current estimates suggest that approximately 30 million flounder (not including sole) are alive in the world today. The soles are Flatfishes of various families Generally speaking they are the members of the family Soleidae, but outside Europe, the name 'sole' is also However, new research suggests that the flounder population could be as low as 15 million due to heavy over-fishing and industrial pollution risks along the Texas coast of the Gulf of Mexico. The Gulf of Mexico ( Spanish: Golfo de México) is the ninth largest Body of water in the world

According to Seafood Watch, Atlantic flounder and sole are currently on the list of seafood that sustainability-minded consumers should avoid. Seafood Watch is a program designed to raise consumer awareness about the importance of buying Seafood from sustainable sources Sustainability, in a general sense is the capacity to maintain a certain process or state indefinitely ^[4]

Flounder families

Bothus mancus, Flowery flounder

The fishes in the following families are called "flounders". In Biological classification, family ( Latin All the families belong to the order Pleuronectiformes of flatfishes. This article is about the taxonomic rank for the sequence of species in a taxonomic list see Taxonomic order In scientific classification used The flatfish are an order ( Pleuronectiformes) of Ray-finned fish, also called the Heterosomata sometimes classified as a suborder of Perciformes The flatfish are an order ( Pleuronectiformes) of Ray-finned fish, also called the Heterosomata sometimes classified as a suborder of Perciformes

• Achiropsettidae (southern flounders)
• Bothidae (lefteye flounders)
• Paralichthyidae (large-tooth flounders)
• Pleuronectidae (righteye flounders)

References

1. ^ Clover, Charles. The southern (or armless) flounders are a small family of Flounders found in Antarctic and sub-Antarctic waters Lefteye flounders are a family Bothidae, of Flounders They are called "lefteye flounders" because most species lie on the sea bottom on their right side Large-tooth flounders are a family Paralichthyidae, of Flounders They lie on the sea bed on their right side both eyes are on the left side of the head Righteye flounders are a family Pleuronectidae, of Flounders They are called "righteye flounders" because most species lie on the sea bottom on their left 2004. The End of the Line: How overfishing is changing the world and what we eat. Ebury Press, London. ISBN
2. ^ Myers, Ransom A. and Worm, Boris. "Rapid worldwide depletion of predatory fish communities. " Nature 423, 280–283 (15 May 2003). Events 1252 - Pope Innocent IV issues the Papal bull Ad exstirpanda, which authorizes but also limits the Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar.
3. ^ Dalton, Rex. 2006. "Save the big fish: Targeting of larger fish makes populations prone to collapse."
4. ^ Monterey Bay Aquarium: Seafood Watch Program - All Seafood List. Monterey Bay Aquarium. Retrieved on 2008-04-17. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Events 69 - After the First Battle of Bedriacum, Vitellius becomes Roman Emperor.

External links

• Common names containing "flounder" at FishBase
• Flounder European flounder description and picture. FishBase is a comprehensive Database of information about Fish.