The marine world is full of different fishes, animals, and vegetation. It is very colorful and aesthetic. From the many kinds of fishes underwater, Flounder and Halibut are two very renowned fishes.
They are very different from each other based on size, shape, and even tail shape.
Key Takeaways
- Flounder and halibut are flatfish, but halibut is larger and has a more distinct flavor.
- Flounder has a delicate and mild flavor, while halibut has a firm and meaty texture.
- Flounder is less expensive than halibut and is used in fish and chips or as a substitute for other white fish. In contrast, halibut is considered a premium fish served in upscale restaurants.
Flounder vs Halibut
Flounder is a type of flatfish that belongs to the family Pleuronectidae. It has a flattened body, with both eyes on the same side of the head. Flounder is found in coastal waters. Halibut is a type of flatfish that belongs to the family Pleuronectidae. It also has a flattened body, but its eyes are on opposite sides of the head.
Flounder is a very abundantly available and tasty fish of the seafood world. It is loved by people all around the world and can be made into many different kinds of dishes.
It is very small in size and has a round appearance. It is also lightweight and has a round tail. Halibut is a complete competitor of Flounder when it comes to taste.
It is the first choice of meat lovers and is made into many tasty food items. With a huge body, it resembles the shape of a diamond. And most of its body consists of just meat.
Comparison Table
| Parameters of Comparison | Flounder | Halibut |
|---|---|---|
| Body shape | It has more of a round body shape. | It has a body that resembles a diamond. |
| Tail shape | The tails of a flounder are also round in shape. | The tail of the halibut is fork-like. |
| Body Size | These are small or medium in size. | These are very big in comparison to a flounder. |
| Weight | These weigh about 5 to 30 pounds. | These weigh about 400 pounds and are mostly meat. |
| Eye position | The eyes are on the right side of the head. | The eyes are on the left side of the head. |
What is Flounder?
Flounder is a type of flatfish and can be found in the deep marines. They do not grow into very big fishes but are still the first choice of meat lovers.
Founders are small or medium in size, and they very closely resemble the shape of a sphere. It will not be wrong to say that flounders are specifically round in shape.
Since they are small in size, it is certain that the wait is also very less. The weight of a typical flounder is just around 5 to 15 pounds.
The biggest and heaviest flounder has a weight of just 30 pounds which gives a very clear idea of how tiny they might be. The shape of the tail is also just like the rest of the body.
This means that the tail is also round in shape and small. A very interesting thing about flounders is that they only have eyes on the right side of the head.
This is very different from that of a halibut. It is so astonishing that only one in twenty thousand flounders might have eyes on the left side of their head. They are very tasty and popular among people who love fish for their meal.
What is Halibut?
Halibut is yet another kind of fish that is very common when one comes to the category of seafood. They are very different from flounders in a lot of aspects.
Halibut is very large in size and can even be compared to the size of human beings. It easily weighs around 400 pounds which gives an idea of how big the size of this fish is.
The shape of the halibut is very unique and rare. These closely resemble the shape and appearance of a diamond which makes them a common attraction too. Halibut are commonly found in the Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans.
The shape of the tail of the halibut is also very unique. It closely resembles the structure and appearance of a fork and is also called a forktail.
The large body of halibut mostly consists of meat. This makes it a very popular choice among chefs and meat lovers. Halibut tastes very delicious and contributes to the making of a lot of dishes.
It is also to a great surprise that both eyes are only on one side of the head. This means that the halibut has eyes on either the left or the right side of the head.
Main Differences Between Flounder and Halibut
- Flounder has a body shape that looks very similar to a diamond. On the other hand, Halibut has a body shape that resembles a round figure.
- Flounders are very small in size and can sometimes reach a medium size too. Halibut is very large in size and is mostly meat only.
- The shape of a Flounder’s tail is also like the rest of its body which is round. The shape of a Halibut’s tail looks quite similar to a fork.
- Due to very small body size, flounders weigh just around 5 to 30 pounds. On the other hand, Halibut are very large and have a bodyweight of 400 pounds.
- The eyes of a flounder are always on the right side of the head. On the other hand, the eyes of a halibut can be either on the right or left side of the head.
- https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1095-8649.1996.tb01112.x
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0044848600003227
Last Updated : 23 July, 2023
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Sandeep Bhandari holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Computers from Thapar University (2006). He has 20 years of experience in the technology field. He has a keen interest in various technical fields, including database systems, computer networks, and programming. You can read more about him on his bio page.
