Arctic flounder (Liopsetta glacialis)

Scientific name: Liopsetta glacialis Pallas, 1776

Arctic flounder (Liopsetta glacialis)

The Arctic flounder (Liopsetta glacialis) is a freshwater fish of the family Pleuronectidae.

Biology

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 50-62; Anal spines: 1; Anal soft rays: 35 - 44; Vertebrae: 37 - 38. Distinguished by the presence of both eyes on the same side of the head, normal scales and generally plain coloration. Lateral line with a very low curve above pectoral fin, straight behind and with a short accessory branch on head; 73-76 pores on main portion; it is complete in males but in females as large as about 20 cm it is an open groove on the posterior part of the body. Most anterior dorsal ray above eye; anal with an embedded forward-pointing spine before first ray; caudal rounded. Eyed side dark olive green to brown, sometimes with scattered black dots or indefinite dark blotches; blind side white, rarely with brown lappings over from the eyed side; fins pale brownish, sometimes with a somewhat yellow tinge or traces of dark spots.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Liopsetta glacialis
Family
Pleuronectidae (Righteye flounders)
Order
Pleuronectiformes (Flatfishes)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
35.0
Depth range
0–90 m (0–295 ft)
Environment
Marine; freshwater; brackish; demersal; depth range 0 - 90 m
Climate
Polar
Distribution
Northeast Atlantic and Arctic: White Sea and Barents Sea eastward along the coasts of Siberia and North America to Queen Maud Gulf in Arctic Canada. North Pacific: Chukchi and Bering seas to Bristol Bay, Alaska and the northern Sea of Okhotsk.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Least Concern (LC)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Uses
Fisheries: minor commercial
Resilience
Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (tm=2; Fec=31,000-230,000)

Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

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