Southern flounder

Southern flounders
Armless flounder Neoachiropsetta milfordi
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Pleuronectiformes
Suborder:	Pleuronectoidei
Family:	Achiropsettidae
Genera
Achiropsetta Mancopsetta Neoachiropsetta Pseudomancopsetta See text for species

The southern (or armless) flounders are a small family of flounders found in Antarctic and sub-Antarctic waters. There are six species of southern flounders in four genera.

The bodies of southern flounders are greatly compressed, with both eyes on the left side of the head. The caudal fin is separate, and the pectoral fins are rudimentary or entirely absent; none of the fins have spines. The lateral line is straight and well-developed. The family varies considerably in size, from the 6.3 cm of Achiropsetta slavae to the 60 cm length of the armless flounder Neoachiropsetta milfordi.

Most of the species have only recently been discovered, and little is known of their habits.

Species

• Genus Achiropsetta
  • Achiropsetta slavae
  • Finless flounder, Achiropsetta tricholepis
• Genus Mancopsetta
  • Antarctic armless flounder, Mancopsetta maculata antarctica
  • Mancopsetta maculata maculata
• Genus Neoachiropsetta
  • Armless flounder, Neoachiropsetta milfordi (Penrith, 1965).
• Genus Pseudomancopsetta
  • Pseudomancopsetta andriashevi

See also

• Paralichthys lethostigma, another species of a different order also sometimes called a "Southern flounder"

External links

• Froese, Rainer, and Daniel Pauly, eds. (2006). "Achiropsettidae" in FishBase. April 2006 version.