Yellowtail flounder (Limanda ferruginea)

Scientific name: Limanda ferruginea Storer, 1839

The Yellowtail flounder (Limanda ferruginea) is a marine fish of the family Pleuronectidae. Native range: Northwest Atlantic, southern Labrador, Canada to Chesapeake Bay, USA.

Biology

Adults inhabit sandy to muddy bottoms. Prefer depths of 37 to 82 m at temperatures of 3-5?C. Feed mainly on polychaete worms and amphipods, shrimps, isopods and other crustaceans and occasionally small fish such as sand lance and capelin. Batch spawner. Marketed fresh or frozen; eaten steamed, fried, microwaved and baked.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name: Limanda ferruginea
Family: Pleuronectidae (Righteye flounders)
Order: Pleuronectiformes (Flatfishes)
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 64.0
Depth range: 27–364 m (89–1194 ft)
Environment: Marine; demersal; depth range 27 - 364 m, usually 36 - 91 m
Climate: Temperate
Distribution: Northwest Atlantic: southern Labrador, Canada to Chesapeake Bay, USA.
Conservation status (IUCN): Vulnerable (VU)(A1bd)
Threat to humans: Harmless
Uses: Fisheries: commercial; aquaculture: experimental
Resilience: High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (rm=0.69; K=0.3; tm=2-6; tmax=12)

Sources

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

Last updated 27 September 2026