| Atlantic halibut | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Pleuronectiformes |
| Family: | Pleuronectidae |
| Genus: | Hippoglossus |
| Species: | H. hippoglossus
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| Binomial name | |
| Hippoglossus hippoglossus | |
| Synonyms [2] | |
| |
The Atlantic halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus) is a flatfish of the family Pleuronectidae. They are demersal fish living on or near sand, gravel or clay bottoms at depths of between 50 and 2,000 m (200 and 6,600 ft). The halibut is among the largest teleost (bony) fish in the world, and is a threatened species owing to a slow rate of growth and overfishing.[3][4] Halibut are strong swimmers and are able to migrate long distances. Halibut size is not age-specific, but rather tends to follow a cycle related to halibut (and therefore food) abundance.
The native habitat of the Atlantic halibut is the temperate and arctic waters of the northern Atlantic, from Labrador and Greenland to Iceland, the Barents Sea and as far south as the Bay of Biscay and Virginia.[5] It is the largest flatfish in the world,[6] reaching lengths of up to 4.7 m (15 ft) and weights of 320 kg (710 lb). Its lifespan can reach 50 years.[5][7]
Age can be estimated by counting the rings laid down inside the otolith – a bony structure found inside the inner ear of the fish.[citation needed]
- ^ Cadrin, S., González Troncoso, D., Hallfredsson, E. & Munroe, T.A. (2022). "Hippoglossus hippoglossus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2022: e.T10097A148035632. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-2.RLTS.T10097A148035632.en. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Nicolas Bailly (2013). Bailly N (ed.). "Hippoglossus hippoglossus (Linnaeus, 1758)". FishBase. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved July 8, 2013.
- ^ Sobel, J. (1996). "Hippoglossus hippoglossus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 1996: e.T10097A3162182. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.1996.RLTS.T10097A3162182.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
- ^ "Top 10 Most Endangered Fish Species". How Stuff Works. 15 May 2012. Retrieved 11 March 2015.
- ^ a b Rainer Froese; Daniel Pauly, eds. (5 June 2009). "Hippoglossus hippoglossus". Fishbase. Archived from the original on 20 June 2009. Retrieved 2009-06-22.
- ^ Chapleau, Francois & Amaoka, Kunio (1998). Paxton, J.R. & Eschmeyer, W.N. (eds.). Encyclopedia of Fishes. San Diego: Academic Press. xxx. ISBN 0-12-547665-5.
- ^ Bigelow, Henry B.; Schroeder, William C. (1953). "Atlantic halibut". Fishery Bulletin of the Fish and Wildlife Service. 53 (74): 249. Retrieved 2009-06-22.