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Flatfish

Flatfish
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Actinopterygii
Order:Pleuronectiformes
Families
Suborder Psettodoidei
    Psettodoidae
Suborder Pleuronectoidei
    Citharidae
    Scophthalmidae
    Bothidae (lefteye flounders)
    Pleuronectidae (righteye flounders)
    Paralichthyidae
    Achiropsettidae (southern flounders)
    Samaridae
Suborder Soleoidei
    Soleidae (soles)
    Achiridae (American soles)
    Cynoglossidae (tonguefishes)

The flatfish are an order (Pleuronectiformes) of ray-finned fish, also called the Heterosomata, sometimes classified as a suborder of the Perciformes. The name means "side-swimmers" in Greek. In many species both eyes lie on one side of the head, one or the other migrating through during development.

Many important food fish species are in this order, including the Dover sole, flounder, plaice and halibut.