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How do Pleuronectidae differ from Bothidae in eye placement?
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pleuronectiform
Body plan and sexual dimorphism in the common sole (Solea solea) and dusky flounder (Syacium papillosum).
The primary difference between the families Bothidae and Pleuronectidae regarding eye placement is the side of the head on which the eyes are located in adults.1
- Bothidae: Commonly known as left-eyed flounders, members of this family are characterized by having their eyes on the left side of the body (sinistral).12
- Pleuronectidae: Known as right-eyed flounders and halibuts, these fish have their eyes on the right side of the body (dextral).1
While larval flatfishes begin with an eye on each side of the head, they undergo a metamorphosis during which one eye migrates to the other side, resulting in the characteristic asymmetry of the adult pleuronectiform skull.3