Flounder

From Encyclopedia Jr, free information reference for Kids

Winter flounder, Pseudopleuronectes americanus

A flounder blending into its environment

Flounders are flatfish that live in ocean waters in Northern European waters and along the east coast of the United States and Canada, as well as the western Pacific. 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 summer flounder Paralichthys dentatus, southern flounder Paralichthys lethostigma, winter flounder Pseudopleuronectes americanus among other species, and in Japan the Japanese flounder Paralichthys olivaceus is common.

After metamorphosis, flounder lie on one side on the ocean floor; either the left or right side might face upward depending on the species. 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. 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 incumbrances; they are sometimes found on bass grounds as well. Their diet consists mainly of fish spawn, crustaceans, polychaetes and small fish.

[edit] Fishing and cooking

Flounder fishing is best in spring and autumn. Flounder may be caught in summer, but the meat will be soft and unpleasant for eating. Flounder will bite at almost anything used for fish bait, including any kind of tackle. Use a small hook; No. 8 being the recommended size. Flounder are an excellent pan fish, but they should be cooked as soon as possible after being caught

[edit] Flounder tramping

The Grande Internationale World Flounder tramping Championships take place at Palnackie, Scotland, usually in the last week of July or first week in August each year. Competitors brave the mud flats of the estuary of the Urr Water in sun or rain to try and catch the heaviest fish, or the largest catch, or even the smallest fish for prize money and a trophy. Fish are caught by walking across the mud and trapping them below the competitors foot. Leisters, which are traditional 3 pronged spears, are no longer permitted to aid capture.

[edit] Threats

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. ^{[1] [2] [3]}

[edit] Flounder families

The fishes in the following families are called "flounders". All the families belong to the order Pleuronectiformes of flatfishes.

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

[edit] Reference

[edit] External links

• Common names containing "flounder" at FishBase.
• Flounder picture.