Citharichthys arctifrons facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Citharichthys arctifrons |
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Citharichthys
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arctifrons
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The Gulf Stream flounder (Citharichthys arctifrons) is a special kind of fish. It lives in the ocean off the eastern coast of North America. This fish belongs to a family called Paralichthyidae, which are known as "lefteye flounders."
What it Looks Like
The Gulf Stream flounder is a flatfish, meaning its body is very flat. It's called a "lefteyed" flatfish because both of its eyes are on the left side of its head. Its mouth is also right next to its eyes.
A special feature of this flounder is its large scales. It has about 40 of these big scales along its side. This line of scales is called its lateral line. It helps the fish feel movements in the water.
The fin on its left side, called the pectoral fin, is longer than the one on its right side. For female flounders, their bottom fins (pelvic fins) are the same size. But in male flounders, the right pelvic fin is bigger.
The top side of the fish is dark brown. This helps it blend in with the ocean floor. The bottom side, which is called its "blind side," is white or brownish-white. This coloring helps it hide from other animals.
Where it Lives
You can find the Gulf Stream flounder in the ocean along the eastern coast of the United States. They live in waters from a place called George's Bank, which is off the coast of New England, all the way down to Southern Florida.
