Pleuronectiformes

The Pleuronectiformes (also called Heterosomata , meaning " at the sides dissemblables") or flat fish

List families

According to ITIS:

sub-order Pleuronectoidei

family Achiridae
family Achiropsettidae
family Bothidae
family Citharidae
family Cynoglossidae
family Paralichthodidae (not recognized by Fishbase, which incorporates it in Pleuronectidae )
family Paralichthyidae
family Pleuronectidae
family Poecilopsettidae (not recognized by Fishbase, which incorporates it in Pleuronectidae )
family Rhombosoleidae (not recognized by Fishbase, which incorporates it in Pleuronectidae )
family Samaridae
family Scophthalmidae
family Soleidae

sub-order Psettodoidei

family Psettodidae

According to FishBase:

family Achiridae
family Achiropsettidae
family Bothidae
family Citharidae
family Cynoglossidae
family Paralichthyidae
family Pleuronectidae
family Psettodidae
family Samaridae
family Scophthalmidae
family Soleidae

Description

Poisson close to the Perciformes, but whose dorsal fins and anal continuous and are well developed, which, in low age, adopt the stroke on a side, involving a great physiological asymmetry extremely adapted for sea-beds. They become Sénestre S or Dextre S, according to the side which sees the light, side on which comes to migrate the other eye leaving the blind lower side. Their mouth eats thus horizontally and the eyes, brought out and independent, offer a broad field of view. The nervous and muscular structure is some extremely changed, especially in cranium, the blind side being less developed than the ocular side (pigmented side).

Small key of identification for the East of the Canada

the species of this area have a determined side, though there can be exceptions within the same species… One finds 3 here Bothidae (Cardeau X), which is Sénestre S, and 7 Pleuronectidae (Plie S, Flétan S), which is Dextre S.

Left side ocular and pigmented : Bothidae

high and thin Body, quasi circular profile. The first 10 dorsal rays are ramified, deprived of membrane, a such fringe. A little in symmetry, the left pelvic fin is very broad at the base and merges almost with the anal fin: Turbot of sand - Scophtalmus aquosus - Windowpane
former Body longer than high, rays dorsal steps in fringe and distinct pelvic fins and at narrow base.: Kind Paralichthys

Small separate eyes, orbits approximately of a diameter of pupil; from 16 to 24 branchiostèges on the external arc; black spots of various sizes on the pigmented side: Cardeau of summer - Paralichthys dentatus - Summer flounder . http://www.seafoodcanada.gc.ca/mini_summer_flounder-f.htm.
Large eyes, separated by much less than one diameter from eye; 9 to 13 branchiostèges on the external arc; pigmented side carrying only 4 quite visible black spots: Cardeau to four ocelles - Paralichthys oblongus - Fourspot flounder

Right-sided ocular and pigmented : Pleuronectidae

large Mouth, jawbone being prolonged until the medium of the eye or beyond; well developed teeth.

definitely round caudal Fin, side line right but slightly arched in top of the pectoral fins; from 75 to 96 rays with the dorsal fin; reddish brown body: Canadian Plaice - Hippoglossoides platessoides - American plaice . http://www.seafoodcanada.gc.ca/mini_american_plaice-f.htm
slightly indented caudal Fin, nonround; ends of the caudal fin angular; from 98 to 105 rays with the dorsal fin; nonreddish body.

side Line arched above the pectoral fin; body mottled of brown dark drawing on olive, below definitely white: Halibut - Hippoglossus hippoglossus - Halibut
right side Line then slightly inflected above the pectoral one; approximately 100 rays with the dorsal; brown grisâtre, below not white, but rather cream-coloured body: Halibut of Greenland (Turbot) - Reinhardtius hippoglossoides - Greenland Halibut . http://www.seafoodcanada.gc.ca/mini_greenland_halibut-f.htm

small Mouth, jawbone being prolonged right under the front of the eye.

side Line definitely arched above the pectoral one; precede anal short spine directed forwards; usually mottled body: Limanda with yellow tail - Sheeted ferruginea - Yellowtail Flounder . http://www.seafoodcanada.gc.ca/mini_yellowtail_flounder-f.htm
more or less right side Line.

Côté plugs head carrying of the circular depressions; end of the right and definitely pigmented pectoral fin of black (to be seen on the specimens of more than 5 inches); more than 100 rays to the dorsal fin: Witch - Glyptocephalus cynoglossus - Witch Flounder . http://www.seafoodcanada.gc.ca/mini_witch_flounder-f.htm
Côté plugs without depressions; pectoral fins without black pigment; Mons of 75 rays to the dorsal.

naked Peau enters the 2 eyes; from 55 to 58 rays with the dorsal; color going from brown to almost black: Plie smoothes - Liopsetta Putnami - Smooth flounder
scaly Peau between the eyes, from 65 to 75 rays with the dorsal; color usually going from brown to the black with mouchetures: red Plaice - Pseudopleuronectes americanus - Winter flounder http://www.seafoodcanada.gc.ca/mini_winter_flounder-f.htm

External bonds

See too

List of articles on the fish | List of the livestock (aquatic animal) | List of fish of sea for kitchen | List of specialists in fish

Simple: Flatfish

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