Flatfishes

Vivekanandan, E and Zacharia, P U and Feroz Khan, M and Nair, Rekha J (2003) Flatfishes. In: Status of Exploited Marine Fishery Resources of India. CMFRI, Cochin, pp. 164-170. ISBN 81-901219-3-6

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Abstract

Fishes belonging to the families Bothidae (flounders), Cynoglossidae (tongue soles), Psettodidae (Indian halibut) and Soleidae (soles) are popularly known as flatfishes. Eleven genera and 25 species of flatfishes contribute to minor or major fisheries along the Indian coast (Table 1). A compressed and asymmetrical body with both the eyes lying on one side of the head is characteristic of the flatfishes. Most of them are small to medium sized fishes barring Psettodes erumei, which attains 60 cm length. They are exclusive benthic fishes, found mainly on muddy or sandy bottom of shelf areas; most of them are restricted to shallow waters of less than 60 m depth. However, P.erumei and Cynoglossus bilineatus are known to occur up to 100 m and 400 m depth respectively

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