Smallmouth flounder facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Smallmouth flounder |
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Citharichthys microstomus Gill, 1864 |
The smallmouth flounder (scientific name: Etropus microstomus) is a cool type of fish. It belongs to a family of flatfish called Paralichthyidae.
What Does the Smallmouth Flounder Look Like?
The smallmouth flounder is a special kind of fish called a lefteyed flatfish. This means it's super flat and thin, almost like a pancake! Both its mouth and eyes are on the same side of its body. These parts are quite small compared to the rest of its head.
This fish has a special line along its side called a lateral line. It helps the fish feel vibrations in the water. This line has about 41 to 45 tiny scales.
Its left bottom fin, called a pelvic fin, is located about a quarter of the way down its body, below the lateral line. The smallmouth flounder also has 13 small comb-like parts, called rakers, on its first gill.
Usually, this flounder is a brownish-olive color on its top side. Its bottom side, which faces the seabed, is white. This fish can grow up to 5 inches (about 13 centimeters) long.
Where Does the Smallmouth Flounder Live?
You can find the smallmouth flounder mostly along the eastern coast of the United States. They live in the waters from New York down to Virginia. Sometimes, they are even spotted farther south than Virginia.
