|
| |
| Platichthys
stellatus
(Pallas,
1788) |
|
| Family: |
Pleuronectidae
(Righteye flounders), subfamily: Pleuronectinae |
 |
| Order: |
Pleuronectiformes
|
| Class: |
Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) |
| FishBase name: |
Starry flounder |
| Max. size: |
36 in TL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 20 lb; max. reported age: 24 years |
| Environment: |
demersal; catadromous; freshwater; brackish;
marine ; depth range 0 - 1240 ft |
| Climate: |
polar; 70°N - 34°N |
| Importance: |
fisheries: commercial; gamefish: yes |
| Resilience: |
Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 -
4.4 years |
Distribution:
Gazetteer
|
North Pacific: Korea and southern Japan through
the Bering Strait and Arctic Alaska to the Coronation Gulf,
Northwest Territories, Canada and Santa Barbara, southern California, USA.
Hybridizes with Parophrys vetulus - the hybrid, called Inopsetta
ischyra, may be found from the Bering Sea to San Fransisco,
California, USA. Also hybridizes with Kareius bicoloratus. |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal
spines
(total): 0-0; Dorsal
soft
rays (total): 52-66; Anal
spines:
1-1; Anal
soft
rays: 38-47; Vertebrae
: 34-37. Distinguished by the presence of both eyes on the same side of
the head, dorsal and anal fins that are marked with dark and light (white
to orange) bars, and especially, by the stellate, bony tubercles scattered
over its body. Dorsal originates over middle of upper eye;
anal with a sharp, forward pointing spine (often buried in skin) before
first ray; pectorals are bluntly pointed; caudal slightly rounded. Eyed side dark brown to nearly black, sometimes with indefinite
blotchings (Alaskans specimens sometimes with a greenish tinge); blind
side white to creamy; dorsal fin with 4 to 7 dark bars with white to
orange spaces between; anal fin with 4 to 6 such bars; caudal fin with 3
or 4 dark longitudinal bars on its posterior part; in rare cases, the
blind side may be partly or completely colored like the eyed side, or
white may be present on the eyed side, creating a piebald effect. |
| Biology: |
Found inshore, often in very shallow water and in
estuaries during the summer; moving into deeper water in the winter. However, they may occur in deep water throughout the year. Does not venture into water of high salinities. Young
and adults move up rivers, as much as 75 mi. Feeds on
crustaceans, worms, small mollusks, brittle stars, and small fishes. Important game fish. Utilized fresh and frozen; eaten
steamed, fried, boiled, microwaved, and baked . |
| Red List Status: |
Not in IUCN Red List |
| Dangerous: |
harmless |
|
