Flounder

Common names: Flounder, Fine Flounder, Chilean flounder.

Scientific name: Paralichthys adspersus.

Size: Females reach almost 80 cm. in length, while males reach smaller sizes, just over 50 cm. in length.

Where does it live?: It is distributed from northern Perú to the Aysén region.

Favorite sites: It lives in direct contact with the sea bottom, whether in sand, mud or rocks.

Diet: It is a predator that feeds on many species that inhabit the TURF-Reserves, such as Cabinza grunt, horse mackerels, bass fish, Blenniid fish, shrimps and squids.

Curious fact: Flounders undergo a truly fascinating metamorphosis: although at the beginning of their life they are bilaterally symmetrical fishes, during late stages of their larval period, an eye, as well as teeth, skin, scales and paired fins change from one side to the other. As a benthic fish (belonging to the benthos, or sea bottom), It settles on its blind side, which is white, while the other side can change its coloration pattern to go unnoticed.

Conservation status: This species is included in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, under the category of “Least concern”; its main threat is fishing for human consumption and water pollution.