©Vivica von Vietinghoff/DMM

Flounder

D-Flunder; GB-Flounder; DK-Skrubbe; PL-Stornia, flądra; LT-Upinė plekšnė; LV-Plekste; EST-Lest; RU-Речная камбала; FIN-Kampela; S-Skrubbskädda

Characters

1) Mouth small (about as long as diameter of eye).
2) Lateral line straight with bony tubercles.
3) Long caudal peduncle.
●) Bony tubercles along basis of dorsal and anal fins.
●) In 70% of the animals both eyes on the right side and in 30% of the animals on the left body side, respectively.
●) Body surface light brown, greyish to dark greenish, often with red spots (remainding on Plaice); blind side white.
Usually up to 30 cm, max. up to 50 cm length.

Similar species

Plaice - bony tubercles posterior of eyes not stretching on the body; without bony tubercles on the basis of dorsal and anal fins; surface rather smooth (vs. rough in flounder).

Common dab - lateral line above pectoral fin strongly curved; without bony tubercles on the basis of dorsal and anal fins.

Lemon sole - short caudal peduncle; without bony tubercles on the basis of dorsal and anal fins.

Long rough dab - mouth larger; without bony tubercles on the basis of dorsal and anal fins.

Biology

Prefers soft ground down to 100 m depth; mainly young individuals also migrate stream upwards. Active during night, during day time often burried in the sand. Spawns in the Baltic Sea mainly in the Bornholm Basin.

Diet

Feeds mainly on bottom-living invertebrates like crustaceans and mussels; but also small fish like gobies.

Importance

Commercially fished mainly by gill nets.