Paralichthys californicus (Ayres, 1859)
California flounder

Family:  Paralichthyidae (Large-tooth flounders)
Max. size:  152 cm TL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 33 kg; max. reported age: 30 years
Environment:  demersal; brackish; marine; depth range 0 - 183 m, oceanodromous
Distribution:  Eastern Pacific: Quillayute River in northern Washington, USA to southern Baja California, Mexico. Also in northern Gulf of California (Ref. 9330).
Diagnosis:   
Biology:  Adults are found mostly on sandy bottoms near shore to 183 m depth. Juveniles are common beyond surf line, larvae settling in bays and estuaries (Ref. 122321). Adults feed during the day (Ref. 9643) on fishes and squids, often well off the bottom. An important sport and commercial fish. They are 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).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 25 May 2007 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  traumatogenic


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