THE STEINHART AQUARIUM - Gulf of Guinea Science ...

192 A Docent Field Guide to the Species of the Steinhart Aquarium
Remarks: They are a popular food fish taken
by both commercial and sport fishermen.
Common in San Francisco Bay and the Gulf
of the Farallones.
Speckled Sanddab
Citharichthys stigmaeus (Bothidae)
Lefteye Flounders
Distribution: Alaska to southern Baja
California.
Habitat: Lives on sandy bottom from nearshore
to 360 m; most often found at less than 90 m.
Appearance: Small, left-eyed flatfish, c. 13–17
cm. Eyed side brown or tan with black speckles
and spots; blind side white.
Diet: Small benthic crustaceans (mysid shrimp,
amphipods especially), worms. Eaten by other
fishes, marine mammals, and sea birds.
Reproduction and Development: Spawns
March–October. Eggs and larvae pelagic.
Remarks: Like many members of their family,
speckled sanddabs can change color and
pattern to match the substrate.
California Halibut aka California Flounder
Paralichthys californicus (Paralichthyidae)
Large-tooth Flounders
Distribution: Northern Washington to
southern Baja California, though less common
north of San Francisco Bay.
Habitat: Sandy bottoms to a depth of 90 m along
the shore, near rocks and in bays and estuaries.
Appearance: They have small heads with large
mouths, small eyes set wide apart and the
lateral line appears as a high arch above the
pectoral fin. Many of these fish are right eyed
even though they are members of the left-eyed
family. They may grow to 1.5 m in length and
weigh 32 kg.
Diet: Adults: fish and squid. Juveniles: small
organisms such as copepods and amphipods.
Reproduction and Development: Spawn in
shallow water from February to July; some
southern populations may spawn year round.
The females mature at 4–5 years and grow
larger than the males which are ready to spawn
at 2–3 years.
Mortality/Longevity: May live as long as 30
years. Subject to predation by sea lions, sharks,
rays and dolphins.
Remarks: They have very sharp teeth, and
are known to bite. In the larval form flatfish
are bilaterally symmetrical and swim upright,
as do other fishes, but at about 13 days one
eye begins to migrate to the other side of the
head. By the time the juvenile is about 8 mm,
it has turned on its side and begins a primarily
benthic lifestyle.
Like flatfish in general, is an ambush predator,
using its large, powerful caudal fin to accelerate
off of the substrate when prey ventures near.
Support important commercial and recreational
fisheries.
C-O Turbot
Pleuronichthys coenosus (Pleuronectidae)
Righteye Flounders
Distribution: Southeastern Alaska to northern
Baja.
Habitat: On sandy or rocky bottoms. Common
in shallow water, but found to depths of 350 m.
Appearance: A right-eyed flatfish. Eyed side
dark brown to blackish, though able to change
color to match substrate. Blind side white. Max.
length: 36 cm.
Diet: Benthic crustaceans, mollusks, and
worms.
Reproduction and Development: Oviparous.
Females lay eggs that float in mid-water until
larvae develop and sink to bottom.
Mortality/Longevity: Life span: up to 14 years.
Remarks: As in all members of the family,
swim bladder is absent in adults, an adaptation
for bottom-dwelling life style.
A dark spot on the caudal fin with a curved
dark bar in front of it gives this fish its common
name: upside down the pattern reads “CO.”
Caught commercially and recreationally in
small numbers. Like all flatfish, it is edible.
English Sole
Pleuronectes vetulus (Pleuronectidae)
Right-eye Flounders
Distribution: Eastern Pacific: Bering Sea to
central Baja California.
Habitat: Sand and mud bottoms. Young found
in intertidal areas and estuaries; migrate into
deeper water as they mature.
Appearance: A right-eyed flatfish with a
pointed head. Eyed side a flat brown; the blind
side white or pale yellow. Max length: 49 cm;
common length: 30 cm.