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Righteye flounders
European plaice, Pleuronectes platessa
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Pleuronectiformes
Suborder:	Pleuronectoidei
Family:	Pleuronectidae G. Cuvier, 1816
Subfamilies & Genera[1]
Subfamily Paralichthodinae Genus Paralichthodes Subfamily Pleuronectinae Genus Acanthopsetta Genus Atheresthes Genus Cleisthenes Genus Clidoderma Genus Dexistes Genus Embassichthys Genus Eopsetta Genus Glyptocephalus Genus Hippoglossoides Genus Hippoglossus Genus Hypsopsetta Genus Isopsetta Genus Kareius Genus Lepidopsetta Genus Limanda Genus Liopsetta Genus Lyopsetta Genus Microstomus Genus Parophrys Genus Platichthys Genus Pleuronectes Genus Pleuronichthys Genus Psettichthys Genus Pseudopleuronectes Genus Reinhardtius Genus Tanakius Genus Verasper Subfamily Poecilopsettinae Genus Marleyella Genus Nematops Genus Poecilopsetta Subfamily Rhombosoleinae Genus Ammotretis Genus Azygopus Genus Colistium Genus Oncopterus Genus Pelotretis Genus Peltorhamphus Genus Psammodiscus Genus Rhombosolea Genus Taratretis

Pleuronectidae, also known as righteye flounders, are a family of flounders. They are called "righteye flounders" because most species lie on the sea bottom on their left sides, with both eyes on their right sides.^[1] The Paralichthyidae are the opposite, with their eyes on the left side. A small number of species in Pleuronectidae can also have their eyes on the left side, notably the members of the genus Platichthys.^[2][3]

Their dorsal and anal fins are long and continuous, with the dorsal fin extending forward onto the head. Females lay eggs that float in mid-water until the larvae develop, and they sink to the bottom.^[4]

They are found on the bottoms of oceans around the world, with some species, such as the Atlantic halibut, Hippoglossus hippoglossus, being found down to 2,000 m (6,600 ft). The smaller species eat sea-floor invertebrates such as polychaetes and crustaceans, but the larger righteye flounders, such as H. hippoglossus, which grows up to 4.7 m (15 ft) in length,^[5] feed on other fishes and cephalopods, as well.

They include many important commercially fished species, including not only the various fish called flounders, but also the European plaice, the halibuts, the lemon sole, the common dab, the Pacific Dover sole, and the flukes.

The name of the family is derived from the Greek πλευρά (pleura), meaning "rib" or "side", and νηκτόν (nekton), meaning "swimming".

Classification

The family has four subfamilies:

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  Pleuronectinae – 27 genera and about 60 species in the Northern Hemisphere (includes Eopsettinae, Hippoglossinae, Hippoglossoidinae, and Lyopsettinae recognized by some as valid subfamilies)


• 
  Paralichthodinae – one species off southern Africa
  


• 
  Poecilopsettinae – three genera and about 20 species in tropical and subtropical oceans


• 
  Rhombosoleinae – nine genera and about 20 species in the Southern Hemisphere
  

In some classifications, the last three subfamilies are raised to the level of families.^[6][7]

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  Atlantic halibut, Hippoglossus hippoglossus
  

  
  

  
  


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  Greenland halibut, Reinhardtius hippoglossoides
  

  
  

  
  


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  American plaice, H. platessoides
  

  
  

  
  


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  Witch, Glyptocephalus cynoglossus
  

  
  

  
  


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  Lemon sole, Microstomus kitt
  

  
  

  
  


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  Common dab, Limanda limanda
  

  
  

  
  


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  English sole, Parophrys vetulus
  

  
  

  
  


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  Pacific sand sole, Psettichthys melanostictus
  

  
  

  
  


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  Deepwater dab, Poecilopsetta beanii
  

  
  

  
  


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  Black flounder, Rhombosolea retiaria
  

  
  

  
  

See also

• 
  Bothidae, the lefteye family of flounders

References