Bigmouth sanddab

Bigmouth sanddab
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Pleuronectiformes
Family:	Paralichthyidae
Genus:	Citharichthys
Species:	C. gilberti
Binomial name
Citharichthys gilberti (Jenkins & Evermann, 1889)

The bigmouth sanddab (Citharichthys gilberti) is a species of flatfish in the large-tooth flounder family Paralichthyidae. It is native to the eastern Pacific Ocean, in tropical waters ranging from the Gulf of California in the north to Peru in the south. It occurs in shallow waters off the coast, to a maximum depth of 36 metres (118 ft).

It is a demersal fish that inhabits the soft bottoms of trawling grounds and bays. It is commonly found in estuaries and can also venture into freshwater.

Like the rest of the large-tooth flounders, it has both eyes on the left side of its head. It grows to a maximum length of 27 centimetres (11 in). The bigmouth sanddab is a predator, feeding on large benthic organisms and small fish. It is a commercial fish of minor importance.

References

• Froese, Rainer, and Daniel Pauly, eds. (2010). "Citharichthys gilberti" in FishBase. August 2010 version.