A flatfish is a member of the order Pleuronectiformes of ray-finned demersal fishes, also called the Heterosomata, sometimes classified as a suborder of Perciformes. In many species, both eyes lie on one side of the head, one or the other migrating through or around the head during development. Some species face their left sides upward, some face their right sides upward, and others face either side upward.
Citharichthys is a genus of flatfish in the large-tooth flounder family, Paralichthyidae. They have both eyes on the left sides of their heads. They are native to the oceans around the Americas, with a single species, C. stampflii off the West African coast. Most are found in relatively shallow depths, but the genus also includes species found in deep water and species that enter fresh water.
Pleuronectidae, also known as righteye flounders, are a family of flounders. They are called "righteye flounders" because most species lie on the sea bottom on their left sides, with both eyes on their right sides. The Paralichthyidae are the opposite, with their eyes on the left side. A small number of species in Pleuronectidae can also have their eyes on the left side, notably the members of the genus Platichthys.
Lefteye flounders are a family, Bothidae, of flounders. They are called "lefteye flounders" because most species lie on the sea bottom on their right sides, with both eyes on their left sides. A helpful reminder when trying to recall the family name for this fish is that "Bothidae eyes are on the same side o' dey head." The family is also distinguished by the presence of spines on the snout and near the eyes.
Nematops is a genus of righteye flounders native to the Indo-West Pacific. Due to their small size and depth of habitation few examples of this genus are caught, and as a result little is known of their morphology and distribution.
Poecilopsetta is a genus of small righteye flounders mainly found in deep water in the Indo-Pacific. Two species, P. beanii and P. inermis, are from the West Atlantic.
Chascanopsetta is a genus of flatfish in the family Bothidae found in deeper parts of the Pacific and Indian Oceans with a single species, C. lugubris also occurring in the Atlantic Ocean. It contains nine member species.
Oneirodes is a genus of fish in the family Oneirodidae.
The scaldfishes comprise a genus, Arnoglossus, of lefteye flounders. They are found in the Pacific, Indian and Atlantic Oceans, including the Mediterranean and Black Sea. They are entirely absent from most of the Americas; the only exceptions are A. coeruleosticta and A. multirastris found off Chile. The genus include both species found in shallow and deeper water. The largest species reaches 28 cm (11 in).
Engyprosopon is a genus of small lefteye flounders. They are found in the Indo-Pacific, ranging from shallow coastal waters to depths in excess of 400 m (1,300 ft).
Monolene is a genus of small, mainly deepwater lefteye flounders from the Atlantic and East Pacific.
Parabothus is a genus of fish in the family Bothidae native to the Indian and Pacific Ocean.
Tosarhombus is a genus of small lefteye flounders native to the western Indian and western Pacific Oceans at depths of 124 to 500 m.
Pseudorhombus is a genus of large-tooth flounders. With the exception of P. binii found off Peru, species in this genus are native to the Indo-Pacific. The largest species reaches 40 cm (16 in) in length.
Syacium is a genus of large-tooth flounders found in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. With the exception of S. guineensis from the Atlantic coast of Africa, all species are from the Americas. The largest species in the genus reaches 40 cm (16 in) in length.
Tarphops is a genus of large-tooth flounders native to the northwest Pacific Ocean.
Plagiopsetta is a genus of crested flounders native to the western Pacific Ocean.
Samaris is a genus of crested flounders native to the Indo-Pacific.
Samariscus is a genus of crested flounders native to the Indo-Pacific.
Tarphops elegans is a species of large-tooth flounders native to the northwest Pacific Ocean .[citation needed]
