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Smallmouth flounder

Etropus microstomus

Information and species illustrations courtesy of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

Species Information
Size up to 5 in
Diagnostic characters Eyes on left side of head, reversals frequent in some species. No spines present in fins. Mouth protractile, asymmetrical, lower jaw moderately prominent; teeth in jaws sometimes canine-like; no teeth on vomer. Preopercle exposed, its posterior margin free and visible, not hidden by skin or scales. Urinary papilla on blind side, not attached to first anal-fin ray. Dorsal fin long, originating above, lateral to, or anterior to upper eye. Both pectoral fins present. Both pelvic fins present, with 6 rays; base of pelvic fin of ocular side on midventral line. No distinct arch in lateral line above pectoral fin on ocular side and lateral line not prolonged below inferior eye; base of pelvic fin on ocular side on midventral line; urinary papilla on blind side; branched caudal-fin rays 11, rarely 10 or 12. Mouth small, maxilla 3.5 to 4.2 in head length nearly reaching vertical through front margin of eye; jaws on blind side arched; no enlarged teeth, front teeth in both jaws equal in size to lateral teeth. Accessory scales present; gill rakers on lower limb of first arch 3 to 6 (rarely 7); with scales on snout. Mandible relatively symmetrical; accessory scales cover 1/2 or less of exposed surface of primary scales in fish larger than about 60 mm standard length; greatest body depth usually less than 50% standard length; number of gill rakers on upper limb of first arch usually equal to or less than number on lower limb. Colour: often with spots, blotches, or ocelli; blind side usually pale; although ambicoloration (eyed-side coloration replicated on blind side) may occasionally occur.
Habitat, biology, and fisheries Found in coastal waters and channels on sandy or muddy bottoms in water temperatures between 50 and 75 degrees F. They spawn near the shore, and are important prey for other fishes.
Distribution Atlantic coast from Cape Cod to Florida and Caribbean islands; in Gulf of Mexico from west Florida to Rio Grande, Mexico.
Citations Carpenter, K.E. (ed) The living marine resources of the Western Central Atlantic. Volume 1: Introduction, molluscs, crustaceans, hagfishes, sharks, batoid fishes, and chimaeras. FAO Species Identification Guide for Fishery Purposes and American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists Special Publication No. 5. Rome, FAO. 2002. pp. 1-600. Carpenter, K.E. (ed) The living marine resources of the Western Central Atlantic. Volume 2: Bony fishes part 1 (Acipenseridae to Grammatidae). FAO Species Identification Guide for Fishery Purposes and American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists Special Publication No. 5. Rome, FAO. 2002. pp. 601-1374. Carpenter, K.E. (ed) The living marine resources of the Western Central Atlantic. Volume 3: Bony fishes part 2 (Opistognathidae to Molidae), sea turtles and marine mammals. FAO Species Identification Guide for Fishery Purposes and American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists Special Publication No. 5. Rome, FAO. 2002. pp. 1375-2127.