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Shrimp Flounder fish identification, Habitats, Fishing methods, fish characteristics
The Shrimp flounder grows to a maximum of 25 cm in length, and like other large-tooth flounders has both eyes on the left side of the head. As with most members of the left-eye flounders they can change the color and pattern of their dark side to match the surrounding bottom. It occurs in bays and shallow waters. Its eyed side is tan to brown with 3 black spots on body: 2 on upper side, one on lower side. Its anterior dorsal-fin spines are tall, with third spine tallest. Most of the time they are at deep from about 115ft to 605 ft. Shrimp flounder feed on crustaceans.
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The Shrimp flounder (Gastropsetta frontalis) is a species of large-tooth flounder, the only member of its genus Gastropsetta. It is Widely distributed from North Caroline to Florida, Gulf of Mexico, Bahamas, from Nicaragua to Panama.
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Description:
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The Shrimp flounder has oblong-ovate body, highly arched in front, covered with small, cycloid, imbedded scales; lateral line arched in front, deflected downward on caudal peduucle. Length of the head is approximately 25% of the standard length, body depth is approximately 50% of the body length; 38 middle caudal rays, eyes are large in the head. Mouth is of moderate size, maxillary 40% in head, the jaws are curved; interorbital ridge is prominent, very narrow. Teeth are small, weak and uniserial, in a single series in each jaw. The Dorsal fins begin in front of eye on snout, its anterior rays singularly long, not connected by the irregular and broadly fringed membrane; the 3rd and 4th rays are the longest, almost equaling length of head. Anal fin beginning at vent, which is situated on blind side, its anterior rays scarcely produced. Pelvic fin on eyed side is longer than pelvic fin on blind side. Ventral of colored side is very long, ending in a long thread-like filament ray in the young. Middle caudal rays are long. Gill rakers are very short, almost as broad as long, very few, 2 to 7 in number. Vent situated in a deep notch, which forms the front margin of abdomen, and not on side, as in other specimens.
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Key characters
There are 3 ocellated black spots on eyed side of the body: 2 on upper side, 1 on lower side near anal. There are several dark lines on and between eyes. Body variably flecked and marbled. Anterior dorsal-fin spines long, with 3-rd spine tallest, almost equal length of the head. Pelvic fin on eyed side is longer than on blind side.
The eyes are on the left side.
60 to 62 Dorsal Fin Rays.
48 to 52 Anal Fin Rays.
10 to 11 Pectoral Fin Rays.
6 Precaudal vertebrae.
15 caudal vertebrae.
74 to 80 scales in lateral line.
2 + 7 gill rakers.
Maximum size is 1 ft. (32 cm), common 25cm.
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Color of the Eyed side in spirits, from light brown to dark reddish brown with 3 black spots on body, 2 along back on upper side, and 1 near anal base on lower side; fins with dusky blotches; several vertical dark stripes are on and between eyes. Body variably flecked and marbled. As with most members of the left-eye flounders they can change the color and pattern of their dark side to match the surrounding bottom.
Habitats:
Most of the time Shrimp flounder are at deep from about 115ft to 605 ft. It occurs in bays and shallow waters. They feed on crustaceans.
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