Where are Flounder found in the wild?

Flounders swim in oceans around the world, from the shallow coastal waters to deeper sea environments. They prefer sandy or muddy seafloors, where they can use their flat bodies to blend in and hide from both prey and predators.

"Flounder (14339426960)" by Roban Kramer is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0

Flounder

Uncover the magical camouflage of flat fish in our oceans!

"Flounder (14339426960)" by Roban Kramer is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0

The Basics

Scientific Name

Paralichthys

Conservation Status

Least Concern

Location

Oceans, mainly Atlantic and Pacific

Average size

Up to 3 feet long

diet

Small fish, squid, crustaceans

lifespan

Up to 10 years

Let’s Explore

Overview

The flounder is a truly unique fish that lives in oceans all around the world. These flat fish have a funny party trick: they can change color to blend in with their surroundings, making them masters of disguise in the underwater world!
Flounders have an interesting body shape that helps them hide on the ocean floor. They can grow up to 0.9 meters (3 feet) long, but their flattened bodies let them rest almost invisibly on sandy or muddy bottoms.
Flounders belong to the scientific class Actinopterygii. This class includes fish that have bony skeletons, making them different from sharks, which have cartilaginous bodies.
As fierce underwater predators, flounders enjoy a diet of small fish, squid, and crustaceans. Using their impressive camouflage skills, they wait patiently for dinner to swim by before launching a surprise attack!
Flounders also have a fascinating growth story. They start their lives swimming upright, but as they grow, one eye shifts to the other side of their body, allowing them to become fully flat and ready to blend in with the ocean floor.
These fish can live up to ten years, making them seasoned veterans of the sea. With a little bit of patience and lots of curiosity, you can learn more about these incredible creatures and their underwater adventures!

Where can you find a Flounder in the wild?

What does a Flounder eat?

How big can a Flounder grow?

How long does a Flounder typically live?

What is the conservation status of the Flounder?

What are the main threats to the Flounder?

wowzerful facts

Flounders can literally live on two sides of the ocean! They start life swimming upright, but as they grow, one eye moves to the other side of their head to help them become flat and camouflage experts.

These fish are like underwater magicians, using their special skin to change colors and patterns, blending in perfectly with sandy or muddy seafloors.

Flounders have impressive eyes, but they do not see well in the dark. They prefer to hunt during the day when they can spot their meals, like small fish and crustaceans.

Some flounder species can grow bigger than a toddler, reaching lengths of up to 0.9 meters (3 feet)! Imagine a fish that big just lounging on the ocean floor.

If flounders were superheroes, they would have the ability to flatten themselves! Their body shape allows them to lie completely flat on the ocean bottom, making them almost invisible.

Flounders are masters of patience. They can stay perfectly still for long periods, waiting for unsuspecting fish to swim by before they pounce with lightning speed.

These unique fish are often called flatfish, and they have a funny way of swimming. They glide gracefully sideways along the seafloor, looking more like a pancake than a fish!

In some cultures, flounders are celebrated as delicious dishes! People cook them in various ways, making them a tasty catch for dinner.

Many flounders are born with one eye on each side of their heads, but that changes as they mature! By the time they reach adulthood, one eye slides over to help them see better while resting flat.

Flounders have surprisingly good senses! They can feel vibrations in the water, helping them detect approaching prey and predators without even seeing them.