The California halibut or California flounder (Paralichthys californicus) is a large-tooth flounder native to the waters of the Pacific Coast of North America from the Quillayute River in Washington to Magdalena Bay in Baja California. It feeds near shore and is free swimming. It typically weighs 6 to 30 pounds (3 to 23 kg). It is much smaller than the larger and more northern-ranging Pacific halibut that can reach 300 pounds (140 kg).
| California halibut | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Carangiformes |
| Family: | Paralichthyidae |
| Genus: | Paralichthys |
| Species: | P. californicus
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| Binomial name | |
| Paralichthys californicus (Ayres, 1859)
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| Synonyms | |
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Hippoglossus californicus Ayres, 1859 | |
This is an unusual fish in that one eye has to migrate around from one side to the other as it grows from an upright fry or baby fish into an adult fish that lies on its side. The adult has two eyes on the up-side as it lies on the bottom. Most flatfish are generally either right-eyed or left-eyed, but the California halibut is unusual in having a roughly even number of each type. Like other flatfish, the halibut hides under sand or loose gravel and blends into the bottom.
References
edit- ^ Lea, B.; van der Heiden, A. (2010). "Paralichthys californicus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2010: e.T183801A8179465. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-3.RLTS.T183801A8179465.en. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
- "Paralichthys californicus". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 18 April 2006.
- Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Paralichthys californicus". FishBase. February 2006 version.
External links
editFurther reading
edit- Miller, D.L. and R.N. Lea. 1972. Guide to the coastal marine fishes of California. Calif. Dept. Fish and Game, Fish Bull. 157. 299 p
- Oda, D. 1991. Development of eggs and larvae of California halibut Paralichthys californicus and fantail sole Xystreurys liolepis (Pisces: Paralichthyidae). Fishery Bulletin, U.S. 89:387-402.