The arrowtooth flounder (Atheresthes stomas) is a fish in the family Pleuronectidae. It can be caught from the Bering Sea to Santa Rosa Island, California. At present, it is the most common fish in the Gulf of Alaska. Data is insufficient for many of the flounder's general traits, including size and age of sexual maturity.[2] Spawning is known to occur from December through February and the species can live up to 27 years.[3]

Arrowtooth flounder (Atheresthes stomias)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Carangiformes
Family: Pleuronectidae
Genus: Atheresthes
Species:
A. stomias
Binomial name
Atheresthes stomias
(Jordan & Gilbert, 1880)
Synonyms
  • Platysomatichthys stomias Jordan & Gilbert, 1880
  • Reinhardtius stomias (Jordan & Gilbert, 1880)

If not properly handled, the flesh of an arrowtooth flounder can soften, due to a proteolytic enzyme which is emitted from a myxosporean parasite that softens the flesh when heated, lowering value and marketability. To make it more marketable, arrowtooth is usually sold on the West Coast as turbot, although it is not related to the true turbot. Additives have been created to combat the softening of flesh, creating economic feasibility for the catching of the flounder.[2]

References

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  1. ^ Spies, I.; Bryan, M.; Stevenson, D.; Munroe, T.A. (2021). "Atheresthes stomias". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2021: e.T158624714A158637931. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-3.RLTS.T158624714A158637931.en. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
  2. ^ a b "Arrowtooth Flounder Research". Alaska Fisheries Science Center. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Archived from the original on December 3, 2020. Retrieved January 11, 2021.
  3. ^ "Arrowtooth Flounder". NOAA Fisheries. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved January 11, 2021.
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