pleuronectes

[Pref. pleuro-, and Greek nēktēs a swimmer.] Ichthy.: The typical genus of the family Pleuronectidae (q. v.), characteristic of the littoral fauna of the north temperate zone. Cleft of mouth narrow; dentition more fully developed on blind than on colored side; dorsal commencing above the scales minute or absent; eyes generally on right side. Twenty-three species are known. Pleuronec tes plate a is the Plaice; P. flesus , the Flounder; P. limanda , the Common Dab; P. microcephal us, the Smear-Dab; and P. cynoglo us , the Craig-fluke. P. glacial is is from the arctic coasts of this continent, and P. american is represents the Plaice in the Western Hemisphere.