E-Fauna BC Home

Platichthys stellatus (Pallas, 1814)
Starry Flounder
Family: Pleuronectidae

Photograph

© Tim Loh     (Photo ID #71912)

Map

Source: Distribution of Platichthys stellatus as compiled by Aquamaps

Species Information

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 52 - 66; Anal spines: 1; Anal soft rays: 38 - 47; Vertebrae: 34 - 37. Distinguished by the presence of both eyes on the same side of the head, dorsal and anal fins that are marked with dark and light (white to orange) bars, and especially, by the stellate, bony tubercles scattered over its body (Ref. 27547). Dorsal originates over middle of upper eye; anal with a sharp, forward pointing spine (often buried in skin) before first ray; pectorals are bluntly pointed; caudal slightly rounded (Ref. 27547). Eyed side dark brown to nearly black, sometimes with indefinite blotchings (Alaskans specimens sometimes with a greenish tinge); blind side white to creamy; dorsal fin with 4 to 7 dark bars with white to orange spaces between; anal fin with 4 to 6 such bars; caudal fin with 3 or 4 dark longitudinal bars on its posterior part; in rare cases, the blind side may be partly or completely colored like the eyed side, or white may be present on the eyed side, creating a piebald effect (Ref. 27547, 28897, 28898).

Source: FishBase. Cooper, J.A. and F Chapleau. 1998 . (Ref. 30193).

Biology

Species Biology

Found inshore, often in very shallow water and in estuaries during the summer; moving into deeper water in the winter (Ref. 27547). However, they may occur in deep water throughout the year (Ref. 27547). Does not venture into water of high salinities (Ref. 28899). Young and adults move up rivers, as much as 120 km (Ref. 27547). Benthic (Ref. 58426). Feeds on crustaceans, worms, small mollusks, brittle stars, and small fishes (Ref. 6885).Environment: demersal; catadromous (Ref. 51243); freshwater; brackish; marine; depth range 0 - 375 m (Ref. 6793). Climate: polar; 70°N - 34°N

Source: FishBase. Cooper, J.A. and F Chapleau. 1998 . (Ref. 30193).

Distribution

Distribution

North Pacific: Korea and southern Japan through the Bering Strait and Arctic Alaska (Ref. 2850) to the Coronation Gulf, Northwest Territories, Canada and Santa Barbara, southern California, USA. Hybridizes with Parophrys vetulus - the hybrid, called Inopsetta ischyra, may be found from the Bering Sea to San Francisco, California, USA. Also hybridizes with Kareius bicoloratus (Ref. 27547).

Source: FishBase. Cooper, J.A. and F Chapleau. 1998 . (Ref. 30193).

Status Information

Origin StatusProvincial StatusBC List
(Red Blue List)
COSEWIC
NativeSNRNo StatusNot Listed



BC Ministry of Environment: BC Species and Ecosystems Explorer--the authoritative source for conservation information in British Columbia.

Additional Range and Status Information Links