''Hippoglossina oblonga'' (the fourspot flounder, American fourspot flounder or simply four-spot), is a flatfish and member of the large-tooth flounder family Paralichthyidae. This species has been placed in the genus ''

Paralichthys ''Paralichthys'' is a genus of large-tooth flounders. Most species are native to the coastal waters of the Americas, but ''P. olivaceus'' is from northeast Asia. The largest species reaches about in length. Species There are currently almost 20 ...

'' by some authorities.

Description

As with most left-eye flounders they can change the color and pattern of their dark side to match the surrounding bottom, and are also capable of rapidly burrowing into muddy or sandy bottoms. The back, which may vary in overall color from light brown to dark gray, is marked with four large and quite conspicuous black "eye-like" spots edged with a much lighter color, two of them situated at each margin of the body. The teeth are sharp and well developed. The underside is pale pinkish, almost translucent in certain areas. Data collected from fishing trawlers suggests adults average about 10 to 12 inches long with 16 inches likely being the maximum size. Adults are predatory and mostly piscivorous, preying on any small fish such as

sand lance A sand lance or sandlance is a fish belonging to the family Ammodytidae. Several species of sand lances are commonly known as "sand eels", though they are not related to true eels. Another variant name is launce, and all names of the fish are ...

and Atlantic silverside, as well as squid.

Habitat

A range in the western

Atlantic The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's five oceans, with an area of about . It covers approximately 20% of Earth's surface and about 29% of its water surface area. It is known to separate the " Old World" of Africa, Europe an ...

from the

Gulf of Maine , image = , alt = , caption = , image_bathymetry = GulfofMaine2.jpg , alt_bathymetry = , caption_bathymetry = Major features of the Gulf of Maine , location = Northeast coast of the ...

, and perhaps as far north as

Nova Scotia Nova Scotia ( ; ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada. It is one of the three Maritime provinces and one of the four Atlantic provinces. Nova Scotia is Latin for "New Scotland". Most of the population are native Eng ...

, south to Florida, preferring water depths of at least 12 fathoms and as far out as to the continental shelf. Little is documented of the breeding and seasonal migratory habits of this fish.

Commercial fishing, angling, and food quality

The fourspot flounder is most often taken commercially by

fishing trawlers A fishing trawler is a commercial fishing vessel designed to operate fishing trawls. Trawling is a method of fishing that involves actively dragging or pulling a trawl through the water behind one or more trawlers. Trawls are fishing nets tha ...

. Due to its small size and lack of abundance inshore it is not prized or even well known by recreational anglers who may often mistake this flounder for its relative the Summer Flounder '' Paralichthys dentatus'', as it shares a similar offshore range, appearance, and feeding habits. In addition to the obvious four spots and more translucent underside, the fourspot flounder can also be identified from the Summer Flounder by its slightly more elongated shape and proportionately larger eyes. The meat is white and considered to have a very mild taste like that of the summer flounder and southern flounder (''

Paralichthys lethostigma ''Paralichthys lethostigma'', the southern flounder, is a species of large-tooth flounder native to the East Coast of the United States and the northern Gulf of Mexico. It is a popular sport fish and is the largest and most commercially valuable ...

'').

References

* Gulf of Maine Research Institute; www.gmri.org/ {{Taxonbar, from=Q2482940 Paralichthyidae Taxa named by Samuel L. Mitchill Fish described in 1815 Taxobox binomials not recognized by IUCN