Hippoglossoides platessoides (Fabricius, 1780)
American plaice
photo by Svensen, R.

Family:  Pleuronectidae (Righteye flounders), subfamily: Pleuronectinae
Max. size:  82.6 cm TL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 6,400.0 g; max. reported age: 30 years
Environment:  demersal; marine; depth range 10 - 3000 m, oceanodromous
Distribution:  Western Atlantic: southern Labrador in Canada and western Greenland to Rhode Island in USA; Eastern Atlantic: off eastern Greenland and from the English Channel to the coast of Murmansk (Ref. 7251). Two subspecies were recognized, H. p. platessoides from northwestern Atlantic, and H. p. limandoides from the northeastern Atlantic (Ref. 51668).
Diagnosis:  Slender body and a large mouth. Dorsal fin starts above left eye. Lateral line almost straight. Rough scales (Ref. 35388).
Biology:  Adults are most abundant from 90 m to 250 m deep and bottom temperatures of -0.5 to 2.5°C (Ref. 6263). Live on soft bottoms (Ref. 9988, 58426). Feed on invertebrates and small fishes. Batch spawner (Ref. 51486). Marketed fresh and frozen; eaten steamed, fried, microwaved and baked (Ref. 9988).
IUCN Red List Status: Endangered (EN); Date assessed: 12 February 2021 (A2bcd) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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