Four-spotted Fluke, Small-Mouth Flounder 329 



Four-spotted Fluke 

 Paralichthys oblongus (Mitchill) 



Color: Eyed side: mottled gray or brown with four large 

 black eyespots edged with pinkish white. Blind side: white. 

 Distribution: Massachusetts to South Carolina. 

 Size: Reaches a length of about VA feet. 

 General Information: The Four-spotted Fluke is not as 

 abundant as the northern fluke and seldom enters the shoal 

 waters of bays and harbors. It is commonly found in 

 depths of 40-900 feet. Spawning occurs from May through 

 July. The eggs are buoyant. It feeds chiefly on small fishes, 

 squid, crustaceans, shellfish, and worms. 

 Economic Importance: Of little importance in the com- 

 mercial fisheries. A few Four-spotted Fluke are marketed 

 mixed with the catch of the northern fluke. Occasionally 

 this species is caught by the angler and mistaken for the 

 northern fluke. 



Small-Mouth Flounder 

 Etropus microstomus (Gill) 



Color: Eyed side: light brown mottled with darker brown, 

 Blind side: white. 



Distribution: Occurs from New York to Virginia and pos- 

 sibly further south. 



