California flounder (Paralichthys californicus) fish species and information / pictures of California flounder - Paralichthys californicus

California flounder (Paralichthys californicus) fish species information

Scientific Name
Paralichthys californicus

Common Name
California flounder

Biology
Lives mostly on sandy bottoms. Common beyond surf line, also in bays and estuaries. Occurs from near shore to 183 m depth. Feeds during the day (Ref. 9643) on fishes and squids, often well off the bottom. An important sport and commercial fish. Also caught with trammel nets (Ref. 9330). Marketed as fresh fillet (Ref. 9330). Adults migrate to shallower waters to spawn (Ref. 9643). Has very sharp teeth and is known to bite if handled (Ref. 13513).

Classification

Classified By

Ayres, 1859

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Flatfishes (Pleuronectiformes)

Family

Large-tooth flounders (Paralichthyidae)

Distribution

Region

Eastern Pacific

Distribution

Eastern Pacific: Quillayute River in northern Washington, USA to southern Baja California, Mexico. Also in northern the Gulf of California (Ref. 9330).

Range

48°N - 24°N

Environment

Climate

Subtropical

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

0 m

Depth To - meters

183 m

Zone

demersal

Environment

Marine; brackish; demersal; oceanodromous (Ref. 51243); depth range 0 - 183 m (Ref. 2850)

Trophic Level

4.5 s.e. 0.63 Based on food items.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

True

Occurs in Fresh Water

False

Occurs on Reefs

False

Is kept in Aquariums

False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

152 cm

Common Length

Unknown cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.5000 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: commercial; gamefish: yes

Vulnerability

High to very high vulnerability (68 of 100)

Resilience

Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (tmax=30; tm=3)

Threat To Humans

Traumatogenic (Ref. 13513)

IUCN Red List Status

Least Concern (LC)