Speckled Flounder

The Speckled Flounder is a small, left-eyed flatfish found in tropical and subtropical waters of the eastern Pacific, from the Gulf of California south to Peru. It is a member of the lefteye flounder family and, as its name suggests, is covered in a fine, dense speckling of dark pigment that helps it blend into sandy or silty seafloor habitat. Reaching only a few inches in length, it is considerably smaller than many commercially important flatfishes and is rarely targeted by fisheries, though it is occasionally taken as bycatch. Like other flatfish, juveniles begin life with bilaterally symmetrical eyes before metamorphosing so both eyes sit on the left side of the adult body.

Key field marks:

• Small, thin body rarely exceeding about 8 inches (20 cm)
• Both eyes on the left side of the head
• Dense, fine speckled pattern of dark spots across a pale tan to gray background
• Thin, delicate fin membranes compared to larger, more robust flounders
• Slightly protruding eyes set close together

Look-alikes: Can be confused with other small lefteye flounders in the region, such as species of Citharichthys, though the Speckled Flounder's especially fine, dense speckling and small adult size help distinguish it.

Speckled Flounder inhabits shallow to moderately deep coastal waters of the tropical eastern Pacific, from the Gulf of California and Mexico south through Central America to Peru. It is typically found on soft sand or muddy substrates in bays, lagoons, and open coastal shelf habitat, generally in depths less than about 100 feet (30 m). The species favors calm, sediment-rich bottoms where its speckled camouflage is most effective. As a fully marine species it requires normal ocean salinity, though it may occasionally range into the lower-salinity waters of coastal lagoons and estuary mouths within its range.

Speckled Flounder is a small, bottom-dwelling predator that feeds on tiny benthic invertebrates such as small crustaceans and worms, using its speckled camouflage to avoid detection by both prey and predators. It spends much of its time partially buried in soft sediment, remaining motionless for long periods before making short, quick strikes at passing prey. The species is solitary outside of spawning, which is thought to follow the typical flatfish pattern of pelagic egg and larval release, with young drifting in open water before settling to the bottom and undergoing metamorphosis. Due to its small size and cryptic habits, its behavior and life history remain less studied than those of larger, commercially important flatfishes.