Flounder
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Flounder
Fish
A uniquely shaped flatfish that lives on the muddy bottoms of estuaries and coastal waters.
💡 Fun Facts
- They are flatfish that lie sideways on the sea floor.
- Both of their eyes migrate to one side of their head as they grow up.
- They are masters of camouflage and can bury themselves in the mud to hide.
Name Story
Platichthys flesus
means “the flat fish”
What does its name mean?
- Platichthys — flat, broad fishGreek (platys, 'flat' + ichthys, 'fish')
- flesus — an old local word for this fish (the 'fluke')a Germanic/vernacular name, latinised
A flounder is born looking like an ordinary fish, swimming upright — but as it grows, one eye slowly travels across its head so both end up on the same side, and it settles down to live flat on the seabed.