Lefteye flounders | |
---|---|
Scaldfish, Arnoglossus laterna | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
Order: | Pleuronectiformes |
Suborder: | Pleuronectoidei |
Family: |
Bothidae Regan, 1910 |
Genera | |
Arnoglossus |
Arnoglossus
Asterorhombus
Bothus
Chascanopsetta
Crossorhombus
Engyophrys
Engyprosopon
Grammatobothus
Japonolaeops
Kamoharaia
Laeops
Lophonectes
Monolene
Neolaeops
Parabothus
Perissias
Psettina
Taeniopsetta
Tosarhombus
Trichopsetta
Lefteye flounders are a family, Bothidae, of flounders. They are called "lefteye flounders" because most species lie on the sea bottom on their right sides, with both eyes on their left sides. A helpful reminder when trying to recall the family name for this fish is that "Bothidae (Both o' dey) eyes are on the same side o' dey head." The family is also distinguished by the presence of spines on the snout and near the eyes.
Lefteye flounders vary considerably in size between the more than 160 species, ranging from 4.5 cm (1.8 in) to 1.5 m (4.9 ft) in length. They include such economically important species as the Japanese halibut.
Scaldfish (Arnoglossus laterna) larva
Wide-eyed flounder, Bothus podas