California flounder (Paralichthys californicus)

Scientific name: Paralichthys californicus Ayres, 1859

The California flounder (Paralichthys californicus) is a brackish-water fish of the family Paralichthyidae. Native range: Eastern Pacific, Quillayute River in northern Washington, USA to southern Baja California, Mexico. Also in northern the Gulf of California.

Biology

Lives mostly on sandy bottoms. Common beyond surf line, also in bays and estuaries. Occurs from near shore to 183 m depth. Feeds during the day on fishes and squids, often well off the bottom. An important sport and commercial fish. Also caught with trammel nets. Marketed as fresh fillet. Adults migrate to shallower waters to spawn. Has very sharp teeth and is known to bite if handled.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Paralichthys californicus
Family
Paralichthyidae (Large-tooth flounders)
Order
Pleuronectiformes (Flatfishes)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
152
Depth range
0–183 m (0–600 ft)
Environment
Marine; brackish; demersal; oceanodromous; depth range 0 - 183 m
Climate
Subtropical
Distribution
Eastern Pacific: Quillayute River in northern Washington, USA to southern Baja California, Mexico. Also in northern the Gulf of California.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Least Concern (LC)
Threat to humans
Traumatogenic
Uses
Fisheries: commercial; gamefish: yes
Resilience
Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (tmax=30; tm=3)

Sources

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

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