limanda

Limanda is a genus of flatfishes in the family Pleuronectidae, commonly known as dabs. The genus comprises several species native to temperate waters of the Northern Hemisphere, with Limanda limanda, the common dab, among the best known.

Members of Limanda are characterized by a dorsoventrally flattened body, a laterally compressed form, and adults with both eyes on the right side. They have a mottled coloration that provides camouflage against sandy or muddy seabed substrates. The dorsal fin extends along much of the body, and the pectoral fins are small to moderate in size.

Limanda species are found in the temperate waters of the North Atlantic and North Pacific, typically in coastal seas, estuaries, and on sandy or muddy bottoms ranging from nearshore zones to the continental shelf. They occupy a range of depths depending on species and life stage.

They are demersal predators and scavengers, feeding on crustaceans, polychaetes, mollusks, and small fish. Reproduction involves pelagic eggs and larvae; after metamorphosis, juveniles settle on the bottom in shallow habitats.

Some species are fished commercially as dab or flatfish, mainly by trawls and bottom nets; management varies by region, and populations are affected by overfishing or habitat changes in some areas. The conservation status of Limanda species is assessed individually by regional authorities, reflecting ecological and fishery conditions in their respective ranges.