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Family Bothidae, LEFTEYE FLOUNDERS
Paralichthys albigutta
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 Department of Environmental Protection's printed
publication, Fishing Lines and are not necessarily the most current
ones. The records are provided as only as a benchmark.
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