summer flounder

fish

Also known as: Paralichthys dentatus

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Last updated

July 14, 2026

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The summer flounder (Paralichthys dentatus) is a greenish-brown, white-spotted flounder found along the Atlantic coast of the U.S. from Maine to Florida. It is a type of flatfish belonging to the family Paralichthyidae.12

Flounders are morphologically unique. Born bilaterally symmetrical with an eye on each side, they swim near the sea's surface. Within days, they develop a lean to one side, and one eye migrates to the top. This causes complex changes in bones, nerves, and muscles, with the underside losing its color. Adult flounders live on the seafloor with the eyed side facing upward. The summer flounder can grow to about 90 cm (35 inches) and is used for food.21

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flounder
…the better-known flounders include the summer flounder (Paralichthys dentatus), an American Atlantic food fish growing to about 90 cm (35 inches); the peacock flounder (Bothus lunatus), a tropical American Atlantic species attractively marked with many pale blue spots and rings; the brill (Scophthalmus rhombus), a relatively large commercial European species,…
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…the better-known flounders include the summer flounder (Paralichthys dentatus), an American Atlantic food fish growing to about 90 cm (35 inches); the peacock flounder (Bothus lunatus), a tropical American Atlantic species attractively marked with many pale blue spots and rings; the brill (Scophthalmus rhombus), a relatively large commercial European species,…
Read More