Paralichthys

Paralichthys is a genus of flatfishes in the family Paralichthyidae. Members are demersal predators found in temperate coastal waters of the western Atlantic and western Pacific, as well as adjacent seas. The fishes in this genus are typically elongated and laterally compressed, with an eyes-on-one-side (eyed side) morphology that develops during late larval stages. Camouflage against the seabed helps them ambush prey, which consists mainly of fish and crustaceans.

The genus includes several described species, among them Paralichthys olivaceus, commonly known as the olive flounder or Japanese flounder, a major aquaculture species in East Asia; Paralichthys dentatus, the summer flounder or fluke, found along the western North Atlantic coast; Paralichthys lethostigma, the lefteye flounder, native to the western Atlantic; and Paralichthys patagonicus, the Patagonian flounder, occurring in the southwestern Atlantic. While individual species vary in range and size, they share similar life histories, including coastal spawning and larval stages that recruit to shallow nursery habitats before maturing offshore or along the continental shelf.

Ecology and fisheries: Paralichthys species are important both commercially and recreationally in many regions. Some are cultivated in aquaculture, notably P. olivaceus, contributing to regional economies and food supplies. Management and conservation concerns arise from overfishing in certain stocks, habitat loss, and the need for ecosystem-based approaches to sustain populations. Taxonomically, Paralichthys is placed in the order Pleuronectiformes, and its species are key references for studies of flatfish biology and fishery science.