Starry flounder (Platichthys stellatus)

Scientific name: Platichthys stellatus Pallas, 1787

Starry flounder (Platichthys stellatus)

The Starry flounder (Platichthys stellatus) is a freshwater fish of the family Pleuronectidae.

Biology

Found inshore, often in very shallow water and in estuaries during the summer; moving into deeper water in the winter. However, they may occur in deep water throughout the year. Does not venture into water of high salinities. Young and adults move up rivers, as much as 120 km. Benthic. Feeds on crustaceans, worms, small mollusks, brittle stars, and small fishes. Important game fish. Utilized fresh and frozen; eaten steamed, fried, boiled, microwaved, and baked.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Platichthys stellatus
Family
Pleuronectidae (Righteye flounders)
Order
Pleuronectiformes (Flatfishes)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
91.0
Common length
57.5
Depth range
0–375 m (0–1230 ft)
Environment
Marine; freshwater; brackish; demersal; catadromous; depth range 0 - 375 m
Climate
Polar
Distribution
North Pacific: Korea and southern Japan through the Bering Strait and Arctic Alaska to the Coronation Gulf, Northwest Territories, Canada and Santa Barbara, southern California, USA. Hybridizes with Parophrys vetulus - the hybrid, called Inopsetta ischyra, may be found from the Bering Sea to San Francisco, California, USA. Also hybridizes with Kareius bicoloratus.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Not Evaluated
Threat to humans
Harmless
Uses
Fisheries: commercial; gamefish: yes
Resilience
Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (tm=2-3; tmax=24)

Sources

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

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