The European Flounder (Platichthys flesus) is a flatfish species commonly found in the coastal waters of Europe. It is a commercially important fish, prized for its delicate flavor and versatility in cooking. The species is recognized by its distinctive flattened body, with both eyes situated on the same side of its head, a characteristic common to all flatfishes.
Description & Characteristics
The European Flounder (Platichthys flesus) can grow to a maximum size of 60.0 cm. Its body is typically a brown or grey color, often mottled with darker spots. This coloration provides effective camouflage against the sandy or muddy bottoms it inhabits. The underside of the fish is white, and its eyes are typically located on the right side of its body.
Habitat and Occurrence
The European Flounder (Platichthys flesus) is a demersal fish, meaning it lives on the seabed. It is found in shallow coastal waters, typically inhabiting depths between 1.0 and 100.0 meters. It is a common resident of estuaries, bays, and coastal inlets, with a preference for sandy or muddy substrates. The species is distributed throughout the northeastern Atlantic Ocean, from the Mediterranean Sea to the North Sea, including the Baltic Sea. Its distribution encompasses various marine zones, including the neritic zone, which extends from the shoreline to the edge of the continental shelf.
Taxonomy
The species Platichthys flesus belongs to the Class: Teleostei, Order: Pleuronectiformes, and Family: Pleuronectidae. The Teleostei are the most diverse group of bony fishes, representing about 95% of all fish species. The Pleuronectiformes order encompasses all flatfishes, characterized by their laterally flattened bodies and both eyes located on one side of their head. The Pleuronectidae family is a large and diverse group of flatfishes, including several commercially important species.
Feeding
The European Flounder (Platichthys flesus) is an opportunistic carnivore, feeding on a variety of invertebrates found on the seabed. Its diet includes amphipods, crabs, crustaceans, edible crab, isopods, krill, living food, ostracodes (seed shrimps), rock shrimps, shrimps, sea squirts, worms, and zoobenthos.
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