Genus: Poecilopsetta, Righteye Flounder, Bigeye-flounders, Bigeye-flounders, Deepwater Dabs, Bigeye Flounders
LL rudimentary/absent on blind side
mouth small
pectorals both sides
POECILOPSETTA
DEEPWATER DABS, BIGEYE FLOUNDERS
Small flatfishes; body oval, strongly compressed; head small; snout much shorter than eye, notched; eyes on right side, large, nearly equal in position, without tentacles, separated by a narrow ridge; mouth asymmetrical, short, ends under front of pupil; nostrils paired, on each side of head; teeth small, slender, difficult to see, on both jaws; preopercular margin free, not covered with skin and scales; gill rakers stout, short, pointed at tips, not serrated; fins without spines, dorsal- and anal-fin rays simple; no elongation of dorsal- or pelvic-fin rays; dorsal fin origin over pupil of upper eye; pectorals present on both sides; pelvic fins with 6 unbranched rays, short based, not joined to anal fin; anus on mid-ventral line; genital papilla on right side of body, slightly above anus; lateral line well developed on ocular side, with strong curve above pectoral fin, no branch to head, rudimentary or absent on blind side; scales moderately small, easily shed, rough on ocular side, smooth on blind side.
A tropical to subtropical genus in all three oceans; 11 species, 2 in the Greater Caribbean.
