Description: body color
brown, its shade depending on color of bottom, with numerous spots and
blotches; 3 prominent eye-like spots forming a triangle; one spot on
lateral line, one above, one below; numerous white spots scattered over
body and fins (albigutta, white-spotted); strong canine-like teeth; caudal
fin in shape of wedge, its tip in the middle.
Similar Fish: southern
flounder, P. lethostigma (no eye-like spots; color pattern is key
to distinguishing the two species).
Where found: INSHORE on
sandy or mud bottoms, often ranging into tidal creeks; occasionally caught
on NEARSHORE rocky reefs.
Size: common to 2 pounds,
generally smaller than southern flounder.
*Florida Record: n/a
Remarks: hatches into
usual fish form, but right eye migrates over to left side early in life; a
bottom dweller; thought to spawn OFFSHORE; feeds on crustaceans and small
fishes.
* The Florida records
quoted are from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's
printed publication, Fishing
Lines and are not necessarily the most current ones. The records are
provided as only as a benchmark.
