pleuronectidæ

pl. [Mod. Lat. pleuro nect (es); Lat. fem. pl. adj. suff. -idœ.] 1. Ichthy.: Flat-fishes; the only family of the Pleuronectoidei (q. v.). The body is strongly compre ed, high, and flat; air-bladder absent; dorsal and anal abnormally long, without division. The larve are symmetrical, with an eye on each side the The adult fish live on the bottom, and swim horihead, and they swim vertically like other fishes. zontally with an undulatory motion. The under, or "blind," side is colorle , and both eyes are on the colored or upper side, though it has not been satisfactorily ascertained how this transference is effected. They are carnivorous, universally distributed, are most numerous toward the equator, though the largest are found in the temperate zones. Some enter fresh water freely, and others have been acclimatized in lakes and rivers. 2. Palæont.: [RHOMBUS.]