Pleuronectidae

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][4]

Pleuronectidae
European plaice, Pleuronectes platessa
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Carangiformes
Suborder:	Pleuronectoidei
Family:	Pleuronectidae Rafinesque, 1815
Subfamilies and genera[1]
Genus †Chibapsetta Genus †Evesthes Genus †Oligopleuronectes Genus †Saitamapsetta Subfamily Atheresthinae Genus Atheresthes Subfamily Hippoglossinae Genus Clidoderma Genus Eopsetta Genus Hippoglossus Genus Lyopsetta Genus Reinhardtius Genus Verasper Subfamily Microstominae Genus Glyptocephalus Genus Microstomus Subfamily Pleuronectinae Genus Acanthopsetta Genus Cleisthenes Genus Dexistes Genus Hippoglossoides Genus Isopsetta Genus Lepidopsetta Genus Limanda Genus Myzopsetta Genus Liopsetta Genus Parophrys Genus Platichthys Genus Pleuronectes Genus Psettichthys Genus †Psettoraptor Genus Pseudopleuronectes Subfamily Pleuronichthyinae Genus Hypsopsetta Genus Pleuronichthys

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.^[5]

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,^[6] 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 five subfamilies:

• Atheresthinae – one genus with 2 species
• Hippoglossinae – 9 extant species in seven genera
• Microstominae – 9 species in two genera
• Pleuronectinae – 14 genera and 33 species in the Northern Hemisphere
• Pleuronichthyinae – 9 species in two genera

• 
  Atlantic halibut, Hippoglossus hippoglossus
• 
  Greenland halibut, Reinhardtius hippoglossoides
• 
  American plaice, H. platessoides
• 
  Witch, Glyptocephalus cynoglossus
• 
  Lemon sole, Microstomus kitt
• 
  Common dab, Limanda limanda
• 
  English sole, Parophrys vetulus
• 
  Pacific sand sole, Psettichthys melanostictus

See also

• Bothidae, the lefteye family of flounders