Starry flounder (Platichthys stellatus) fish species and information / pictures of Starry flounder - Platichthys stellatus

Starry flounder (Platichthys stellatus) fish species information

Scientific Name
Platichthys stellatus

Common Name
Starry flounder

Biology
Found inshore, often in very shallow water and in estuaries during the summer; moving into deeper water in the winter (Ref. 27547). However, they may occur in deep water throughout the year (Ref. 27547). Does not venture into water of high salinities (Ref. 28899). Young and adults move up rivers, as much as 120 km (Ref. 27547). Benthic (Ref. 58426). Feeds on crustaceans, worms, small mollusks, brittle stars, and small fishes (Ref. 6885). Important game fish (Ref. 2850). Utilized fresh and frozen; eaten steamed, fried, boiled, microwaved, and baked (Ref. 9988).

Classification

Classified By

Pallas, 1787

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Flatfishes (Pleuronectiformes)

Family

Righteye flounders (Pleuronectidae)

Distribution

Region

North Pacific

Distribution

North Pacific: Korea and southern Japan through the Bering Strait and Arctic Alaska (Ref. 2850) to the Coronation Gulf, Northwest Territories, Canada and Santa Barbara, southern California, USA. Hybridizes with Parophrys vetulus - the hybrid, called Inopsetta ischyra, may be found from the Bering Sea to San Francisco, California, USA. Also hybridizes with Kareius bicoloratus (Ref. 27547).

Range

70°N - 34°N

Environment

Climate

Polar

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

0 m

Depth To - meters

375 m

Zone

demersal

Environment

Marine; freshwater; brackish; demersal; catadromous (Ref. 51243); depth range 0 - 375 m (Ref. 6793)

Trophic Level

3.32 s.e. 0.38 Based on diet studies.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

True

Occurs in Fresh Water

True

Occurs on Reefs

False

Is kept in Aquariums

False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

91.0 cm

Common Length

57.5 cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.7500 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

Moderate to high vulnerability (51 of 100)

Resilience

Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (tm=2-3; tmax=24)

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated