Flatfishes

345 species · 13 families

Flatfish are unmistakable: their body is flattened sideways and they lie on one side on the seabed, with both eyes on the upper side. As young fish they still swim upright, but during growth one eye migrates to the other side. The upper side is usually brown and mottled for camouflage, the underside white. They wait half-buried in the sand for prey and are masters at matching their colour to the bottom. Familiar species like plaice, sole, turbot and halibut are prized at the table.

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Abbott's sanddab

Citharichthys abbotti

Paralichthyidae

Acapulco flounder

Monolene dubiosa

Bothidae

Adriatic sole

Pegusa impar

Soleidae

Alaska halibut

Hippoglossus stenolepis

Pleuronectidae

Amazon sole

Hypoclinemus mentalis

Achiridae

American fourspot flounder

Hippoglossina oblonga

Paralichthyidae

American plaice

Hippoglossoides platessoides

Pleuronectidae

Anglefin Whiff

Citharichthys gymnorhinus

Paralichthyidae

Annular sole

Brachirus annularis

Soleidae

Antarctic armless flounder

Mancopsetta maculata

Achiropsettidae

Arctic flounder

Liopsetta glacialis

Pleuronectidae

Argus flounder

Pseudorhombus argus

Paralichthyidae

Armless deepsea flounder

Neoachiropsetta milfordi

Achiropsettidae

Arrowtooth flounder

Atheresthes stomias

Pleuronectidae

Asaedae flounder

Monolene asaedae

Bothidae

Atlantic halibut

Hippoglossus hippoglossus

Pleuronectidae

Atlantic sole

Pegusa lascaris

Soleidae

Atlantic spotted flounder

Citharus linguatula

Citharidae

Baltic flounder

Platichthys flesus

Pleuronectidae

Bamboo sole

Heteromycteris japonicus

Soleidae

Banded sole

Soleichthys heterorhinos

Soleidae

Banded tonguefish

Symphurus fasciolaris

Cynoglossidae

Banded-fin flounder

Azygopus pinnifasciatus

Pleuronectidae

Bandfin flounder

Liopsetta pinnifasciata

Pleuronectidae

Bandfin flounder

Perissias taeniopterus

Bothidae

Bastard halibut

Paralichthys olivaceus

Paralichthyidae

Bastard sole

Microchirus azevia

Soleidae

Bay flounder

Ammotretis rostratus

Rhombosoleidae

Bay whiff

Citharichthys spilopterus

Paralichthyidae

Beach flounder

Syacium latifrons

Paralichthyidae

Bengal tongue sole

Cynoglossus cynoglossus

Cynoglossidae

Bigeye flounder

Hippoglossina macrops

Paralichthyidae

Bigeye tonguesole

Cynoglossus macrophthalmus

Cynoglossidae

Bigmouth flounder

Hippoglossina stomata

Paralichthyidae

Bigmouth sanddab

Citharichthys gilberti

Paralichthyidae

Black cow-tongue

Paraplagusia japonica

Cynoglossidae

Black flounder

Rhombosolea retiaria

Pleuronectidae

Black halibut

Reinhardtius hippoglossoides

Pleuronectidae

Black plaice

Pseudopleuronectes obscurus

Pleuronectidae

Black sole

Brachirus niger

Soleidae

Blackcheek tonguefish

Symphurus plagiusa

Cynoglossidae

Blackfin flounder

Glyptocephalus stelleri

Pleuronectidae

Blackhand sole

Pegusa nasuta

Soleidae

Blackspotted sole

Aseraggodes melanostictus

Soleidae

Blendbanded sole

Zebrias zebra

Soleidae

Bloch's tongue sole

Paraplagusia blochii

Cynoglossidae

Blotched flounder

Asterorhombus intermedius

Bothidae

Blotched tongue-sole

Cynoglossus puncticeps

Cynoglossidae

Bluespotted flounder

Crossorhombus azureus

Bothidae

Branched-ray flounder

Citharoides macrolepidotus

Citharidae

Brazilian flounder

Paralichthys brasiliensis

Paralichthyidae

Brill

Scophthalmus rhombus

Scophthalmidae

Broad flounder

Paralichthys squamilentus

Paralichthyidae

Brown flounder

Arnoglossus aspilos

Bothidae

Brown sole

Achirus klunzingeri

Achiridae

Butter sole

Isopsetta isolepis

Pleuronectidae

C-O sole

Pleuronichthys coenosus

Pleuronectidae

Cadenat's sole

Pegusa cadenati

Soleidae

California flounder

Paralichthys californicus

Paralichthyidae

California tonguefish

Symphurus atricaudus

Cynoglossidae

Canary tonguesole

Cynoglossus canariensis

Cynoglossidae

no photo

Cape scaldfish

Arnoglossus capensis

Bothidae

Cape sole

Heteromycteris capensis

Soleidae

Caribbean flounder

Trichopsetta caribbaea

Bothidae

Caribbean tonguefish

Symphurus arawak

Cynoglossidae

Carpet sole

Liachirus melanospilos

Soleidae

Cartwright's flounder

Pseudorhombus dupliciocellatus

Paralichthyidae

Chabanaud's tonguesole

Symphurus chabanaudi

Cynoglossidae

Channel flounder

Syacium micrurum

Paralichthyidae

Chinese Brill

Tephrinectes sinensis

Paralichthyidae

Cigarette paper

Hippoglossoides elassodon

Pleuronectidae

Cinnamon flounder

Pseudorhombus cinnamoneus

Paralichthyidae

Cockatoo flounder

Samaris cristatus

Samaridae

Comb flounder

Marleyella bicolorata

Pleuronectidae

Common dab

Limanda limanda

Pleuronectidae

Common sole

Peltorhamphus novaezeelandiae

Pleuronectidae

Common sole

Solea solea

Soleidae

Cortez flounder

Paralichthys aestuarius

Paralichthyidae

Craig fluke

Glyptocephalus cynoglossus

Pleuronectidae

Crested flounder

Lophonectes gallus

Bothidae

Curlfin sole

Pleuronichthys decurrens

Pleuronectidae

Cyclope flounder

Ancylopsetta cycloidea

Paralichthyidae

Dab

Pseudorhombus javanicus

Paralichthyidae

Dalgleish's flounder

Arnoglossus dalgleishi

Bothidae

Dappled flounder

Paralichthys woolmani

Paralichthyidae

Dark thick-rayed sole

Aesopia cornuta

Soleidae

no photo

Dark Tonguefish

Symphurus nigrescens

Cynoglossidae

Deep flounder

Pseudorhombus elevatus

Paralichthyidae

Deep flounder

Pseudorhombus arsius

Paralichthyidae

Deepsea sole

Embassichthys bathybius

Pleuronectidae

Deepwater dab

Poecilopsetta beanii

Poecilopsettidae

Deepwater flounder

Monolene sessilicauda

Bothidae

Deepwater tonguefish

Symphurus piger

Cynoglossidae

Derwent flounder

Taratretis derwentensis

Pleuronectidae

Diamond turbot

Hypsopsetta guttulata

Pleuronectidae

Disc flounder

Bothus myriaster

Bothidae

Dotted flounder

Limanda punctatissima

Pleuronectidae

Double-lined tongue sole

Paraplagusia bilineata

Cynoglossidae

Doublespot whiff

Citharichthys dinoceros

Paralichthyidae

Doubtful sole

Aseraggodes dubius

Soleidae

Dover sole

Microstomus pacificus

Pleuronectidae

Drab flounder

Arnoglossus tapeinosoma

Bothidae

Drab sole

Achirus achirus

Achiridae

Drab tonguefish

Symphurus plagusia

Cynoglossidae

Duméril's freshwater sole

Apionichthys dumerili

Achiridae

Dusky flounder

Syacium papillosum

Paralichthyidae

Dusky sole

Lepidopsetta mochigarei

Pleuronectidae

Dwarf flounder

Tarphops oligolepis

Paralichthyidae

East coast sole

Austroglossus pectoralis

Soleidae

Eckstrom's topknot

Zeugopterus regius

Scophthalmidae

Elongate flounder

Ammotretis elongatus

Pleuronectidae

Elongate scaldfish

Arnoglossus elongatus

Bothidae

Elongate tonguesole

Symphurus elongatus

Cynoglossidae

Elongate tonguesole

Symphurus ligulatus

Cynoglossidae

English sole

Parophrys vetulus

Pleuronectidae

European plaice

Pleuronectes platessa

Pleuronectidae

Eyed flounder

Bothus ocellatus

Bothidae

Eyed sole

Microchirus ocellatus

Soleidae

Eyespot sole

Heteromycteris oculus

Soleidae

Fantail flounder

Xystreurys liolepis

Paralichthyidae

Feeble lefteye flounder

Arnoglossus debilis

Bothidae

Fewscale tonguesole

Cynoglossus oligolepis

Cynoglossidae

Fine flounder

Paralichthys adspersus

Paralichthyidae

Finespotted flounder

Pleuronichthys cornutus

Pleuronectidae

Finless flounder

Achiropsetta tricholepis

Achiropsettidae

Finless sole

Pardachirus marmoratus

Soleidae

Fison's flounder

Arnoglossus fisoni

Bothidae

Five-rayed sanddab

Citharichthys mariajorisae

Paralichthyidae

Fiveeye flounder

Pseudorhombus quinquocellatus

Paralichthyidae

no photo

Fivespot flounder

Pseudorhombus pentophthalmus

Paralichthyidae

Flabby sole

Gymnachirus nudus

Achiridae

Flatfish

Pseudorhombus malayanus

Paralichthyidae

Flathead flounder

Hippoglossoides dubius

Pleuronectidae

Flounder

Bothus mancus

Bothidae

Flounder

Grammatobothus polyophthalmus

Bothidae

no photo

Flounder

Brachypleura novaezeelandiae

Citharidae

Flounder

Engyprosopon grandisquama

Bothidae

Flounder

Pseudorhombus jenynsii

Paralichthyidae

Flounder

Bothus pantherinus

Bothidae

Flounder

Cyclopsetta chittendeni

Paralichthyidae

Flounder

Lepidorhombus boscii

Scophthalmidae

Foureye flounder

Hippoglossina tetrophthalma

Paralichthyidae

Foureyed flounder

Ancylopsetta kumperae

Paralichthyidae

Fourline tongue sole

Cynoglossus bilineatus

Cynoglossidae

Fowler's variegated flounder

Psettina variegata

Bothidae

Frechkop's sole

Microchirus frechkopi

Soleidae

Freshwater sole

Apionichthys finis

Achiridae

Freshwater sole

Brachirus panoides

Soleidae

Fringed flounder

Xystreurys rasile

Paralichthyidae

Fringed flounder

Etropus crossotus

Paralichthyidae

Fringed sole

Trinectes fimbriatus

Achiridae

Fringed sole

Gymnachirus texae

Achiridae

Genatag tonguefish

Cynoglossus interruptus

Cynoglossidae

God's flounder

Cyclopsetta panamensis

Paralichthyidae

Gray flounder

Etropus rimosus

Paralichthyidae

Greenback flounder

Rhombosolea tapirina

Pleuronectidae

Grohmann's scaldfish

Arnoglossus grohmanni

Bothidae

Guibe's flounder

Bothus guibei

Bothidae

Guinean tonguesole

Cynoglossus monodi

Cynoglossidae

Gulf flounder

Paralichthys albigutta

Paralichthyidae

Gulf sanddab

Citharichthys fragilis

Paralichthyidae

Gulf Stream flounder

Citharichthys arctifrons

Paralichthyidae

Gunther's flounder

Colistium guntheri

Pleuronectidae

Haacke's sole

Aseraggodes haackeanus

Soleidae

Halfspotted tonguefish

Symphurus atramentatus

Cynoglossidae

Harrowed sole

Zebrias cancellatus

Soleidae

Hartfeld's sole

Heteromycteris hartzfeldii

Soleidae

Highsnout flounder

Crossorhombus valderostratus

Bothidae

Hogchoker

Trinectes maculatus

Achiridae

Horned Whiff

Citharichthys cornutus

Paralichthyidae

Hornyhead turbot

Pleuronichthys verticalis

Pleuronectidae

Huysman's flounder

Samariscus huysmani

Samaridae

Imperial scaldfish

Arnoglossus imperialis

Bothidae

Indian halibut

Psettodes erumei

Psettodidae

Japanese scaldfish

Arnoglossus japonicus

Bothidae

Japanese zebra sole

Pseudaesopia japonica

Soleidae

Jenyns's sole

Catathyridium jenynsii

Achiridae

Kamchatka flounder

Atheresthes evermanni

Pleuronectidae

Kiss flounder

Engyprosopon osculus

Bothidae

Kitahara's flounder

Laeops kitaharae

Bothidae

Klein's sole

Synapturichthys kleinii

Soleidae

Kobe flounder

Crossorhombus kobensis

Bothidae

Lachner's tonguefish

Cynoglossus lachneri

Cynoglossidae

Ladder sole

Zebrias scalaris

Soleidae

Largescale flounder

Engyprosopon xystrias

Bothidae

Largescale tonguefish

Symphurus minor

Cynoglossidae

Largescale tonguesole

Cynoglossus arel

Cynoglossidae

Lee's tonguefish

Symphurus leei

Cynoglossidae

Lemon sole

Microstomus kitt

Pleuronectidae

Lined sole

Achirus lineatus

Achiridae

Lined tonguesole

Cynoglossus itinus

Cynoglossidae

Long tonguesole

Cynoglossus lingua

Cynoglossidae

Longfin flounder

Engyprosopon longipterum

Bothidae

Longfin sanddab

Citharichthys xanthostigma

Paralichthyidae

Longfin sole

Glyptocephalus zachirus

Pleuronectidae

Longsnout tonguesole

Paraplagusia longirostris

Cynoglossidae

Longtail tonguesole

Symphurus pelicanus

Cynoglossidae

Lost sole

Achirus declivis

Achiridae

Macao Sole

Cynoglossus macrolepidotus

Cynoglossidae

Maculated flounder

Bothus maculiferus

Bothidae

Maldive flounder

Engyprosopon maldivensis

Bothidae

Manyscale flounder

Engyprosopon multisquama

Bothidae

Manyscale flounder

Parabothus polylepis

Bothidae

Manyspot scaldfish

Arnoglossus polyspilus

Bothidae

Margined tonguefish

Symphurus marginatus

Cynoglossidae

Marley's tonguesole

Cynoglossus marleyi

Cynoglossidae

Mazatlan sole

Achirus mazatlanus

Achiridae

Megrim

Lepidorhombus whiffiagonis

Scophthalmidae

Mertens's deepwater flounder

Monolene mertensi

Bothidae

Milky spotted sole

Aseraggodes kobensis

Soleidae

Mixedscale sole

Brachirus heterolepis

Soleidae

Mottled sanddab

Citharichthys sordidus

Paralichthyidae

Mud sole

Vanstraelenia chirophthalma

Soleidae

Naked sole

Gymnachirus melas

Achiridae

Nares flounder

Thysanopsetta naresi

Paralichthyidae

Natterer's freshwater sole

Apionichthys nattereri

Achiridae

Network sole

Achirus scutum

Achiridae

New Zealand flounder

Rhombosolea leporina

Pleuronectidae

New Zealand sand flounder

Rhombosolea plebeia

Pleuronectidae

New Zealand turbot

Colistium nudipinnis

Pleuronectidae

Nigerian tonguesole

Cynoglossus browni

Cynoglossidae

Northern rock sole

Lepidopsetta polyxystra

Pleuronectidae

Northern tonguefish

Symphurus pusillus

Cynoglossidae

Norwegian topknot

Phrynorhombus norvegicus

Scophthalmidae

Ocellated sole

Pardachirus pavoninus

Soleidae

Ocellated tonguefish

Symphurus ommaspilus

Cynoglossidae

Ocellated turbot

Pleuronichthys ocellatus

Pleuronectidae

Ocellated wedge sole

Dicologlossa hexophthalma

Soleidae

Offshore tonguefish

Symphurus civitatium

Cynoglossidae

Onefin tonguesole

Cynoglossus monopus

Cynoglossidae

Oriental sole

Brachirus orientalis

Soleidae

Oval flounder

Syacium ovale

Paralichthyidae

Ovate sole

Solea ovata

Soleidae

Pacific dwarf flounder

Etropus longimanus

Paralichthyidae

Pacific eyed flounder

Bothus constellatus

Bothidae

Pacific leopard flounder

Bothus leopardinus

Bothidae

Pacific rock sole

Lepidopsetta bilineata

Pleuronectidae

Pacific sand sole

Psettichthys melanostictus

Pleuronectidae

Papillose flounder

Syacium guineensis

Paralichthyidae

Patagonian flounder

Paralichthys patagonicus

Paralichthyidae

Peacock flounder

Bothus lunatus

Bothidae

Peculiar sole

Aseraggodes xenicus

Soleidae

Pelican flounder

Chascanopsetta lugubris

Bothidae

Petrale sole

Eopsetta jordani

Pleuronectidae

Portuguese sole

Dagetichthys lusitanicus

Soleidae

Pygmy tonguefish

Symphurus parvus

Cynoglossidae

Quagga sole

Zebrias quagga

Soleidae

Red tonguesole

Cynoglossus joyneri

Cynoglossidae

Ridgescale flounder

Taeniopsetta radula

Bothidae

River sole

Trinectes fluviatilis

Achiridae

Robust tonguesole

Cynoglossus robustus

Cynoglossidae

Rough flounder

Psettina senta

Bothidae

Roughscale flounder

Clidoderma asperrimum

Pleuronectidae

Roundnose flounder

Eopsetta grigorjewi

Pleuronectidae

no photo

Rüppell's scaldback

Arnoglossus rueppelii

Bothidae

Sand tonguefish

Cynoglossus capensis

Cynoglossidae

Sand Whiff

Citharichthys arenaceus

Paralichthyidae

Sash flounder

Trichopsetta ventralis

Bothidae

Scaldback

Arnoglossus kessleri

Bothidae

Scaldfish

Arnoglossus laterna

Bothidae

Scrawled sole

Trinectes inscriptus

Achiridae

Senegalese sole

Solea senegalensis

Soleidae

Senegalese tonguesole

Cynoglossus senegalensis

Cynoglossidae

Sevenspine flounder

Engyprosopon septempes

Bothidae

Shelf flounder

Etropus cyclosquamus

Paralichthyidae

Shoal Flounder

Syacium gunteri

Paralichthyidae

Shortheaded tonguesole

Cynoglossus kopsii

Cynoglossidae

Shortnose tongue sole

Cynoglossus abbreviatus

Cynoglossidae

Shrimp flounder

Gastropsetta frontalis

Paralichthyidae

Sinerama tonguesole

Paraplagusia sinerama

Cynoglossidae

Slender deepwater flounder

Monolene atrimana

Bothidae

Slender flounder

Etropus ectenes

Paralichthyidae

Slender sole

Peltorhamphus tenuis

Pleuronectidae

Slender sole

Lyopsetta exilis

Pleuronectidae

Slender tonguefish

Cynoglossus gracilis

Cynoglossidae

Slim flounder

Monolene antillarum

Bothidae

Slime flounder

Microstomus achne

Pleuronectidae

Slipper sole

Trinectes paulistanus

Achiridae

Small sandab

Citharichthys platophrys

Paralichthyidae

Smalleye flounder

Paralichthys microps

Paralichthyidae

Smallmouth deepwater flounder

Monolene microstoma

Bothidae

Smallmouth flounder

Etropus microstomus

Paralichthyidae

Smallscale tonguesole

Cynoglossus microlepis

Cynoglossidae

Smallsnout tonguesole

Symphurus microrhynchus

Cynoglossidae

Smooth flounder

Pleuronectes putnami

Pleuronectidae

Smooth flounder

Citharichthys stampflii

Paralichthyidae

Snouted flounder

Engyprosopon rostratum

Bothidae

Sohachi flounder

Cleisthenes herzensteini

Pleuronectidae

Sole

Trinectes fonsecensis

Achiridae

Sole

Achiroides melanorhynchus

Soleidae

Solenette

Buglossidium luteum

Soleidae

Sorsogon sole

Brachirus sorsogonensis

Soleidae

Southern flounder

Paralichthys lethostigma

Paralichthyidae

Southern peacock sole

Pardachirus hedleyi

Soleidae

Speckled sanddab

Citharichthys stigmaeus

Paralichthyidae

Speckled sole

Peltorhamphus latus

Pleuronectidae

Speckled sole

Pardachirus balius

Soleidae

Speckledtail flounder

Engyophrys sanctilaurentii

Bothidae

Spinyhead flounder

Engyophrys senta

Bothidae

Spotfin flounder

Cyclopsetta fimbriata

Paralichthyidae

Spottail flounder

Bothus robinsi

Bothidae

Spottail spiny turbot

Psettodes belcheri

Psettodidae

no photo

Spotted flounder

Hippoglossina bollmani

Paralichthyidae

Spotted halibut

Verasper variegatus

Pleuronectidae

Spotted tonguesole

Paraplagusia guttata

Cynoglossidae

Spotted turbot

Pleuronichthys ritteri

Pleuronectidae

Spotted whiff

Citharichthys macrops

Paralichthyidae

Spottedfin tonguefish

Cynoglossus maculipinnis

Cynoglossidae

Spottedfin Tonguefish

Symphurus diomedeanus

Cynoglossidae

Starry flounder

Platichthys stellatus

Pleuronectidae

Steinitz's sole

Aseraggodes steinitzi

Soleidae

Stone flounder

Kareius bicoloratus

Pleuronectidae

Summer flounder

Paralichthys dentatus

Paralichthyidae

Suyen's tonguesole

Cynoglossus suyeni

Cynoglossidae

Thickback sole

Microchirus variegatus

Soleidae

Thor's scaldfish

Arnoglossus thori

Bothidae

Three-eye flounder

Ancylopsetta dilecta

Paralichthyidae

Three-eye flounder

Paralichthys triocellatus

Paralichthyidae

Three-eyed flounder

Samariscus triocellatus

Samaridae

Three-spot flounder

Ancylopsetta dendritica

Paralichthyidae

Threeeye sole

Pegusa triophthalma

Soleidae

Threeline tonguefish

Cynoglossus trigrammus

Cynoglossidae

Tongue crested flounder

Plagiopsetta glossa

Samaridae

Toothed flounder

Cyclopsetta querna

Paralichthyidae

Topknot

Zeugopterus punctatus

Scophthalmidae

Tosa flounder

Psettina tosana

Bothidae

Triangular flounder

Paralichthys isosceles

Paralichthyidae

Tropical flounder

Paralichthys tropicus

Paralichthyidae

Tufted sole

Dexillus muelleri

Soleidae

Turbot

Scophthalmus maximus

Scophthalmidae

Wedge sole

Dicologlossa cuneata

Soleidae

West coast sole

Austroglossus microlepis

Soleidae

Whiskered sole

Monochirus hispidus

Soleidae

Whitespotted sole

Synaptura albomaculata

Soleidae

Wide-eyed flounder

Bothus podas

Bothidae

Williams' tonguefish

Symphurus williamsi

Cynoglossidae

Willowy flounder

Tanakius kitaharae

Pleuronectidae

Windowpane

Scophthalmus aquosus

Scophthalmidae

Winter flounder

Pseudopleuronectes americanus

Pleuronectidae

Witch flounder

Arnoglossus scapha

Bothidae

Yellowfin sole

Limanda aspera

Pleuronectidae

Yellowtail flounder

Limanda ferruginea

Pleuronectidae

Yellowtail sole

Trinectes xanthurus

Achiridae

Zanzibar tonguesole

Cynoglossus zanzibarensis

Cynoglossidae

Zebra sole

Zebrias zebrinus

Soleidae