Tropical flounder (Paralichthys tropicus)

Scientific name: Paralichthys tropicus Ginsburg, 1933

The Tropical flounder (Paralichthys tropicus) is a marine fish of the family Paralichthyidae. Native range: Western Central Atlantic, Colombia and Venezuela to Trinidad and Tobago. Reported to range south to Suriname.

Biology

Dorsal soft rays (total): 69-80; Anal soft rays: 55 - 64. Head moderately pointed; brown with numerous roundish dark spots on head, body and fins, many as large or larger than eyes; also numerous small dark and small pale spots; teeth uniserial, the anterior ones enlarged; origin of dorsal fin above or slightly anterior to the front edge of eyes; caudal fin biconcave; pelvic fins short-based, symmetrically placed, and subequal.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name: Paralichthys tropicus
Family: Paralichthyidae (Large-tooth flounders)
Order: Pleuronectiformes (Flatfishes)
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 50.0
Common length: 40.0
Depth range: 0–185 m (0–607 ft)
Environment: Marine; reef-associated; depth range 0 - 185 m
Climate: Tropical
Distribution: Western Central Atlantic: Colombia and Venezuela to Trinidad and Tobago. Reported to range south to Suriname.
Conservation status (IUCN): Not Evaluated
Threat to humans: Harmless
Uses: Fisheries: minor commercial
Resilience: Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)

Sources

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

Last updated 27 September 2026