Flatfish

A flatfish is a member of the ray-finned demersal fish order Pleuronectiformes, also called the Heterosomata, sometimes classified as a suborder of Perciformes. In many species, both eyes lie on one side of the head, one or the other migrating through or around the head during development. Some species face their left sides upward, some face their right sides upward, and others face either side upward.

For the album by Flook, see Flatfish (album). For the move in shogi, see Flatfish (shogi).

Flatfish
Temporal range:
A camouflaged flatfish
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Clade: Percomorpha
Order: Pleuronectiformes
Type species
Pleuronectes platessa
Families

Suborder Psettodoidei

Psettodidae (spiny turbots)

Suborder Pleuronectoidei

Superfamily Citharoidea
Citharidae (largescale flounders)
Superfamily Pleuronectoidea
Scophthalmidae (turbots)
Paralichthyidae (large-tooth flounders)
Pleuronectidae (righteye flounders)
Bothidae (lefteye flounders)
Superfamily Soleoidea
Paralichthodidae (measles flounders)
Poecilopsettidae (bigeye flounders)
Rhombosoleidae (rhombosoleids)
Achiropsettidae (southern flounders)
Samaridae (crested flounders)
Achiridae (American soles)
Soleidae (true soles)
Cynoglossidae (tonguefishes)

Many important food fish are in this order, including the flounders, soles, turbot, plaice, and halibut. Some flatfish can camouflage themselves on the ocean floor.

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