American smooth flounder facts for kids
The American smooth flounder (Pleuronectes putnami) is a type of flatfish. It belongs to the Pleuronectidae family. This fish lives on the bottom of shallow salty and slightly salty waters. It can be found up to about 27 meters (89 feet) deep. You can find it in the cool waters of the northwestern Atlantic Ocean. Its home ranges from Ungava Bay in Quebec, Canada, down to Rhode Island, United States. This flounder can grow up to 30 centimeters (12 inches) long.
Quick facts for kids American smooth flounder |
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What Does It Look Like?
The American smooth flounder is a flatfish with both eyes on its right side. It looks a lot like the winter flounder. Its top side, including its fins, can be dark grey, brown, or almost black. It might be plain or have darker spots. The bottom side of the fish is white. Female flounders feel smooth on both sides. Male flounders, however, have a rougher feel on their top side.
Where Does It Live?
This flounder lives in shallow, cool waters in the northwestern Atlantic Ocean. It prefers salty and slightly salty areas. You can find it close to shore in soft mud bottoms. It likes places like estuaries, river mouths, and calm bays. Its home stretches along the Canada–US coast. This includes Quebec, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island.
What Does It Eat?
The American smooth flounder mainly eats small creatures that live on the ocean floor. These are called zoobenthos invertebrates. This includes things like crustaceans (like tiny crabs), molluscs (like small snails), and marine worms.
