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Phylum Chordata > Subphylum Vertebrata > fishes > Order Pleuronectiformes
Flatfishes: how to tell apart some common families
Order Pleuronectiformes
updated Apr 2020

Here's how to tell apart the flatfishes commonly seen on our shores

Tongue-soles
Family Cynoglossidae
Soles
Family Soleidae
Large-tooth flounders
Family Paralichthyidae
Eyes on left side. Eyes on right side. Eyes on left side.
Tail fin joined to the dorsal and anal fins. In some, the tail fin is separated from the dorsal and anal fins. In others like the Commerson's sole the tail fin is joined to the dorsal and anal fins. Tail fin separated from
the dorsal and anal fins.

More comparisons


Some nudibranchs are large.
They are snails without shells.

On the underside of a nudibranch
is a broad foot.

Some flatworms are large and fast moving.


how to tell apart
 
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